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Introduction
The Shelter Capacity Report is a descriptive account of capacity statistics for emergency homeless shelters in Canada. The number of emergency 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.
This report is provided annually by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS). The information in this report was obtained from the National Service Provider List (NSPL), a comprehensive listing of homeless shelters in Canada. This list is maintained by ESDC 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
Facilities that provide 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
Facilities that provide 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 3 months and 3 years.
Violence against women shelters
Facilities that provide 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, often ranging from 12 to 29 years of age.
Family shelters provide services to families and adults with dependents. Some also accept single adult women without dependents.
Shelter capacity
Figure 1: Total number of emergency shelters and permanent shelter beds in Canada.Figure 1 - Text version
There are 407 emergency shelters and 15,623 permanent shelter beds in Canada.
These numbers have remained relatively stable over the past 5 years.
Emergency shelter beds by clientele served
Figure 2: Breakdown of emergency shelter beds in Canada by clientele served.Figure 2 - Text version
General 36%
Men’s 30%
Women’s 13%
Youth 10%
Family 11%
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 (30%) compared to women’s shelters (13%)
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 emergency shelter beds (82%) are found in large cities. While smaller communities have fewer shelter beds, they still account for nearly half (38%) of all emergency shelters.
The average number of beds is 18 per shelter in small communities versus 51 in large communities.
Figure 3: Comparison of the ratio of emergency shelters and permanent shelter beds between large and small communities in Canada.Figure 3 - Text version
In Canada, 38% of emergency shelters are found in small communities with a population of less than 300,000
In Canada, 62% of emergency shelters are found in large communities with a population of 300,000 or more
In Canada, 18% of permanent shelter beds are found in small communities with a population of less than 300,000
In Canada, 82% of permanent shelter beds are found in large communities with a population of 300,000 or more
National summary: Emergency shelters (2017)*
Emergency shelters and shelter beds by year
Province/Territory
2017
2016
2015
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Newfoundland and Labrador
6
61
5
53
5
53
Nova Scotia
9
217
8
208
7
193
New Brunswick
9
148
9
150
9
150
Prince Edward Island
1
7
1
7
1
7
Québec
75
1,934
74
1,948
79
1,995
Ontario
149
6,764
147
6,622
145
6,715
Manitoba
15
661
15
661
15
661
Saskatchewan
21
443
21
439
21
459
Alberta
36
3,182
36
3,182
36
3,182
British Columbia
77
2,069
76
2,019
72
1,859
Yukon
3
27
3
27
3
20
Northwest Territories
3
76
4
100
4
100
Nunavut
2
34
2
34
2
34
Canada
407
15,623
401
15,450
399
15,428
*Changes in the reported number of shelters and beds during the years 2015 to 2017 may reflect updated information rather than actual changes in national shelter capacity.
Emergency shelters by clientele served (2017)
Emergency shelters and shelter beds by clientele
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
3
32
0
0
0
0
2
17
1
12
6
61
Nova Scotia
1
15
3
135
3
43
2
24
0
0
9
217
New Brunswick
3
68
2
45
2
20
2
15
0
0
9
148
Prince Edward Island
0
0
1
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
7
Québec
26
431
9
891
12
231
27
327
1
54
75
1,934
Ontario
26
850
40
2,638
27
1,079
37
773
20
1,424
150
6,764
Manitoba
10
534
0
0
0
0
2
24
3
103
15
661
Saskatchewan
3
50
5
146
10
236
3
11
0
0
21
443
Alberta
17
2,416
4
389
4
134
10
183
1
60
36
3,182
British Columbia
41
1,243
10
356
11
295
12
140
3
35
77
2,069
Yukon
1
14
0
0
1
2
1
11
0
0
3
27
Northwest Territories
0
0
1
35
1
31
1
10
0
0
3
76
Nunavut
0
0
1
22
1
12
0
0
0
0
2
34
Canada
132
5,653
76
4,664
72
2,083
99
1,535
29
1,688
407
15,623
Emergency shelters and shelter beds by community (2017)
Newfoundland and Labrador
Community
General
Men’s
Women’s
Youth
Family
Total
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Shelters
Beds
Happy Valley – Goose Bay
1
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
8
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
Community
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
New Glasgow
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
0
0
1
4
Sydney
0
0
1
15
1
7
0
0
0
0
2
22
Truro
1
15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
15
Total
1
15
3
135
3
43
2
24
0
0
9
217
New Brunswick
Community
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
10
0
0
0
0
2
35
Miramichi
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
5
0
0
1
5
Moncton
2
62
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
62
Saint John
0
0
1
20
1
10
1
10
0
0
3
40
Total
3
68
2
45
2
20
2
15
0
0
9
148
Prince Edward Island
Community
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
Community
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
6
0
0
0
0
2
21
0
0
3
27
Mont-Laurier
1
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
9
Montréal
5
96
6
832
9
205
17
229
1
54
38
1,416
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
26
431
9
891
12
231
27
327
1
54
75
1,934
Ontario
Community
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
42
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
20
3
62
Hamilton
0
0
3
215
2
35
1
20
1
103
7
373
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
2
61
1
20
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
431
2
109
2
24
3
554
11
1,130
Peel region
1
119
1
60
0
0
2
59
1
225
5
463
Peterborough
0
0
1
40
1
10
1
15
1
15
4
80
Red Lake
1
22
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
22
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
197
14
1,235
12
735
10
374
3
240
42
2,781
Waterloo region
1
40
1
39
0
0
4
45
1
60
7
184
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
26
850
40
2,638
27
1,079
37
773
20
1,424
150
6,764
Manitoba
Community
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
Community
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
0
0
3
82
5
90
3
11
0
0
11
183
Total
3
50
5
146
10
236
3
11
0
0
21
443
Alberta
Community
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
Community
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
16
675
7
291
7
200
7
90
2
30
39
1,286
Vernon
1
25
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
25
Victoria
2
134
1
21
1
25
1
10
1
5
6
195
Williams Lake
1
30
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
30
Total
41
1,243
10
356
11
295
12
140
3
35
77
2,069
Yukon
Community
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
Community
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
31
1
10
0
0
3
76
Total
0
0
1
35
1
31
1
10
0
0
3
76
Nunavut
Community
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 (2017)
Transitional housing emergency shelters and shelter beds by clientele served
