The annual Shelter Capacity Report provides capacity statistics for emergency homeless shelters in Canada. The number of shelter facilities and the number of permanent beds are reported for each province and territory, as well as by community. In addition, brief overviews of Transitional Housing facilities and Violence Against Women shelters are provided in the appendices.
The information contained in this report was obtained from the National Service Provider List (NSPL), a comprehensive listing of homeless shelters in Canada. The NSPL is maintained by the Community Development and Homelessness Partnerships Directorate as part of the National Homelessness Information System (NHIS), a data development initiative that focuses on the collection and analysis of homeless shelter data in Canada.
Types of shelters
Emergency shelters
Emergency shelters are defined as facilities providing temporary, short-term accommodation for homeless individuals and families. This may or may not include other services such as food, clothing or counselling.
Transitional housing
Transitional housing provides temporary shelter, but can be differentiated from emergency shelters by the longer length of stay and greater intensity of support services offered to clients. Transitional housing is an intermediate step between emergency shelter and permanent housing. Support services help clients gain stability and self-sufficiency to maintain permanent housing. Stays are typically between three months and three years.
Violence against women (VAW) shelters
Violence against women (VAW) shelters are defined as facilities providing temporary shelter to single women or women with children fleeing domestic abuse. They may function in either a crisis capacity or as transitional or second-stage housing.
Emergency shelters and transitional housing are further characterized according to the clients they serve
Men’s shelters provide services to adult males. Some also accept youth.
Women’s shelters provide services to adult females. Some also accept youth.
General shelters provide services to adult males and females. Some also accept youth.
Youth shelters provide services to youth. Shelters have varying definitions of youth, which may include a range of ages from 12 to 29 years.
Family shelters provide services to families and adults with dependants. Some also accept single adult women without dependants.
Shelter capacity
These numbers have remained relatively stable over the past five years.
Emergency shelter beds by clientele served
36% of shelter beds in Canada are found in general shelters serving both men and women.
Men’s shelters account for a greater percentage of all shelter beds (29%) compared to women’s shelters (14%).
Family shelters account for 11% of all shelter beds.
Shelters that exclusively serve youth tend to be smaller in size. Although they make up almost a quarter of all shelters, they account only for 10% of all emergency shelter beds.
Community
The majority of shelter beds (81%) are found in large cities. While smaller communities have fewer shelter beds, they still account for nearly half (41%) of all emergency shelters.
The average number of beds is 18 per shelter in small communities versus 53 per shelter in large communities.
Text description: Community breakdown graphic
41% of emergency shelters are found in small communities with a population of less than 300,000.
59% of emergency shelters are found in large communities with a population of more than 300,000.
19% of permanent shelter beds are found in small communities with a population of less than 300,000.
81% of permanent shelter beds are found in large communities with a population of more than 300,000.
National summary: Emergency shelters*
Province/Territory
2016
2015
2013-2014
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Newfoundland and Labrador
5
53
5
53
5
53
Nova Scotia
8
208
7
193
7
188
New Brunswick
9
150
9
150
8
155
Prince Edward Island
1
7
1
7
1
7
Québec
74
1,948
79
1,995
86
2,091
Ontario
147
6,622
145
6,715
137
6,843
Manitoba
15
661
15
661
16
713
Saskatchewan
21
439
21
459
24
513
Alberta
36
3,182
36
3,182
36
2,853
British Columbia
76
2,019
72
1,859
74
1,907
Yukon
3
27
3
20
3
16
Northwest Territories
4
100
4
100
4
109
Nunavut
2
34
2
34
2
34
Canada
401
15,450
399
15,428
403
15,482
*Changes in the reported number of shelters and beds during the years 2013 to 2016 primarily reflect updated information rather than actual changes in national shelter capacity.
Emergency shelters by clientele served
Province/Territory
General
Men’s
Women’s
Youth
Family
Total
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Newfoundland and Labrador
2
24
0
0
0
0
2
17
1
12
5
53
Nova Scotia
2
25
2
120
3
43
1
20
0
0
8
208
New Brunswick
3
66
2
45
2
24
2
15
0
0
9
150
Prince Edward Island
0
0
1
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
7
Québec
25
418
9
891
12
261
27
324
1
54
74
1,948
Ontario
28
854
37
2,546
26
1,070
36
728
20
1,424
147
6,622
Manitoba
10
534
0
0
0
0
2
24
3
103
15
661
Saskatchewan
4
70
4
116
10
242
3
11
0
0
21
439
Alberta
17
2,416
4
389
4
134
10
183
1
60
36
3,182
British Columbia
40
1,203
10
356
11
285
12
140
3
35
76
2,019
Yukon
1
14
0
0
1
2
1
11
0
0
3
27
Northwest Territories
0
0
1
35
1
23
1
10
1
32
4
100
Nunavut
0
0
1
22
1
12
0
0
0
0
2
34
Canada
132
5,624
71
4,527
71
2,096
97
1,483
30
1,720
401
15,450
Emergency shelters and shelter beds by community
Newfoundland and Labrador
General
Men’s
Women’s
Youth
Family
Total
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
St. John’s
2
24
0
0
0
0
2
17
1
12
5
53
Total
2
24
0
0
0
0
2
17
1
12
5
53
Nova Scotia
General
Men’s
Women’s
Youth
Family
Total
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Halifax
0
0
2
120
2
36
1
20
0
0
5
176
Sydney
1
10
0
0
1
7
0
0
0
0
2
17
Truro
1
15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
15
Total
2
25
2
120
3
43
1
20
0
0
8
208
New Brunswick
General
Men’s
Women’s
Youth
Family
Total
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Bathurst
1
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
6
Fredericton
0
0
1
25
1
14
0
0
0
0
2
39
Miramichi
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
5
0
0
1
5
Moncton
2
60
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
60
Saint John
0
0
1
20
1
10
1
10
0
0
3
40
Total
3
66
2
45
2
24
2
15
0
0
9
150
Prince Edward Island
General
Men’s
Women’s
Youth
Family
Total
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Charlottetown
0
0
1
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
7
Total
0
0
1
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
7
Quebec
General
Men’s
Women’s
Youth
Family
Total
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Amos
1
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
8
Baie-Comeau
0
0
1
17
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
17
Drummondville
1
9
0
0
0
0
1
9
0
0
2
18
Fermont
0
0
0
0
1
6
0
0
0
0
1
6
Gatineau
1
55
0
0
0
0
1
6
0
0
2
61
Granby
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
20
0
0
1
20
Grand-Mère
1
15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
15
Ham-Sud
1
17
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
17
Joliette
1
10
0
0
0
0
2
21
0
0
3
31
Mont-Laurier
1
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
9
Montréal
4
79
6
832
9
235
17
226
1
54
37
1,426
Québec City
3
52
1
39
1
12
2
14
0
0
7
117
Rouyn-Noranda
1
15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
15
Saguenay
2
45
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
48
St-Eugène-de-Guigues
1
14
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
14
Sherbrooke
1
22
0
0
1
8
1
8
0
0
3
38
St-Georges
2
25
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
25
Thetford Mines
1
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
9
Trois-Rivières
1
8
0
0
0
0
1
11
0
0
2
19
Valleyfield
2
26
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
26
Victoriaville
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
9
0
0
1
9
Total
25
418
9
891
12
261
27
324
1
54
74
1,948
Ontario
General
Men’s
Women’s
Youth
Family
Total
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Barrie-Simcoe
1
20
1
20
0
0
1
15
0
0
3
55
Brantford
1
36
1
38
0
0
1
20
0
0
3
94
Cochrane
0
0
1
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
10
Dufferin region
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
20
0
0
1
20
Durham region
0
0
1
40
1
45
1
13
1
20
4
118
Guelph
0
0
1
18
1
14
1
16
2
35
5
83
Halton region
2
35
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
20
3
55
Hamilton
0
0
3
215
1
20
1
20
1
103
6
358
Hunstville
0
0
1
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
8
Jarvis
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
8
0
0
1
8
Kenora
1
25
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
25
Kingston
2
39
1
18
2
24
1
15
0
0
6
96
Lindsay
1
19
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
19
London
1
45
2
255
1
31
0
0
1
41
5
372
Niagara region
3
81
0
0
1
20
2
30
1
16
7
147
Nippissing/North Bay
1
19
0
0
1
10
0
0
0
0
2
29
Ottawa
1
12
3
449
2
115
2
24
3
554
11
1,154
Peel region
1
119
1
60
0
0
1
14
1
225
4
418
Peterborough
0
0
1
40
1
10
1
15
1
15
4
80
Red Lake
1
18
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
18
Sarnia
1
25
1
12
0
0
1
9
1
8
4
54
Sault Ste. Marie
0
0
1
24
1
7
1
10
1
7
4
48
Sioux Lookout
2
34
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
34
Stratford
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
14
0
0
1
14
Sudbury
0
0
1
36
0
0
1
16
1
20
3
72
Thunder Bay
1
42
2
34
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
76
Timmins
1
28
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
28
Toronto
3
190
12
1,145
12
735
10
374
3
240
40
2,684
Waterloo region
2
42
1
39
0
0
4
45
1
60
8
186
Windsor
2
25
1
56
1
11
1
10
0
0
5
102
York region
0
0
1
29
1
28
3
40
1
60
6
157
Total
28
854
37
2,546
26
1,070
36
728
20
1,424
147
6,622
Manitoba
General
Men’s
Women’s
Youth
Family
Total
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Brandon
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
9
2
12
Dauphin
1
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
6
Flin Flon
1
26
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
26
Swan River
1
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
10
The Pas
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
34
1
34
Thompson
1
24
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
24
Winnipeg
5
465
0
0
0
0
2
24
1
60
8
549
Total
10
534
0
0
0
0
2
24
3
103
15
661
Saskatchewan
General
Men’s
Women’s
Youth
Family
Total
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Moose Jaw
1
12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
12
North Battleford
1
16
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
16
Prince Albert
1
22
0
0
2
58
0
0
0
0
3
80
Regina
0
0
2
64
3
88
0
0
0
0
5
152
Saskatoon
1
20
2
52
5
96
3
11
0
0
11
179
Total
4
70
4
116
10
242
3
11
0
0
21
439
Alberta
General
Men’s
Women’s
Youth
Family
Total
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Calgary
5
1,746
1
80
2
18
3
45
1
60
12
1,949
Edmonton
4
307
1
249
2
116
2
88
0
0
9
760
Grand Prairie
1
92
0
0
0
0
1
14
0
0
2
106
High Level
1
20
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
20
Lethbridge
1
80
0
0
0
0
1
14
0
0
2
94
Lloydminster
0
0
1
28
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
28
Medicine Hat
1
30
0
0
0
0
1
6
0
0
2
36
Red Deer
2
61
0
0
0
0
1
8
0
0
3
69
Wood Buffalo
2
80
1
32
0
0
1
8
0
0
4
120
Total
17
2,416
4
389
4
134
10
183
1
60
36
3,182
British Columbia
General
Men’s
Women’s
Youth
Family
Total
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Abbotsford
1
20
0
0
0
0
1
14
0
0
2
34
Campbell River
1
22
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
22
Chetwynd
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
Chilliwack
1
11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
11
Courtenay
1
14
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
14
Dawson Creek
1
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
8
Duncan
1
30
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
30
Fort Nelson
1
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
6
Fort St. John
1
20
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
20
Kamloops
1
35
0
0
0
0
1
6
0
0
2
41
Kelowna
1
60
0
0
1
20
1
10
0
0
3
90
Mission
1
20
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
20
Nanaimo
0
0
1
23
1
10
0
0
0
0
2
33
Nelson
1
17
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
17
Penticton
1
11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
11
Port Alberni
1
12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
12
Prince George
1
30
1
21
1
30
1
10
0
0
4
91
Prince Rupert
1
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
10
Quesnel
1
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
10
Smithers
1
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
9
Squamish
1
15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
15
Terrace
1
16
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
16
Vancouver
14
595
7
291
7
200
7
90
2
30
37
1,206
Vernon
1
25
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
25
Victoria
3
174
1
21
1
25
1
10
1
5
7
235
Williams Lake
1
30
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
30
Total
40
1,203
10
356
11
285
12
140
3
35
76
2,019
Yukon
General
Men’s
Women’s
Youth
Family
Total
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Dawson City
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
1
2
Whitehorse
1
14
0
0
0
0
1
11
0
0
2
25
Total
1
14
0
0
1
2
1
11
0
0
3
27
Northwest Territories
General
Men’s
Women’s
Youth
Family
Total
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Yellowknife
0
0
1
35
1
23
1
10
1
32
4
100
Total
0
0
1
35
1
23
1
10
1
32
4
100
Nunavut
General
Men’s
Women’s
Youth
Family
Total
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Iqaluit
0
0
1
22
1
12
0
0
0
0
2
34
Total
0
0
1
22
1
12
0
0
0
0
2
34
Appendix A: Transitional housing by clientele served
Province/Territory
General
Men’s
Women’s
Youth
Family
Total
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Newfoundland and Labrador
2
74
1
2
2
12
2
25
0
0
7
113
Nova Scotia
0
0
1
19
3
42
2
15
0
0
6
76
New Brunswick
0
0
0
0
1
12
1
8
0
0
2
20
Prince Edward Island
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Québec
26
610
22
525
12
210
30
362
5
79
95
1,786
Ontario
19
747
18
513
5
94
24
298
4
446
70
2,098
Manitoba
7
159
3
75
0
0
2
10
2
42
14
286
Saskatchewan
3
71
6
103
3
36
13
170
1
16
26
396
Alberta
12
525
3
315
6
182
8
80
2
101
31
1,203
British Columbia
20
627
4
70
4
50
3
57
0
0
31
804
Yukon
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Northwest Territories
0
0
1
32
0
0
0
0
1
5
2
37
Nunavut
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Canada
89
2,813
59
1,654
36
638
85
1,025
15
689
284
6,819
Appendix B: Violence against women shelters
Province/Territory
Shelters
Beds
Newfoundland and Labrador
14
136
Nova Scotia
16
224
New Brunswick
16
230
Prince Edward Island
3
45
Québec
94
1,118
Ontario
118
2,291
Manitoba
20
387
Saskatchewan
18
301
Alberta
44
1,032
British Columbia
94
994
Yukon
5
37
Northwest Territories
5
44
Nunavut
5
34
Canada
452
6,873
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