A place of safety, respect and renewal

Powell Place has provided safety, stability, and support for women and women-led families in crisis since 1977. As Vancouver’s first women-only shelter, we continue to be a place of refuge for those facing the intersecting challenges of violence, abuse, poverty, mental illness, and addiction.

Here, women find more than just a bed. They also find understanding, respect, and a chance to rebuild. 

Our all-women staff provide 24/7, low-barrier and trauma-informed care in a home-like setting. It empowers residents to retain their autonomy and begin to heal and move forward in life.

Residents can stay for up to 100 days. We provide meals, laundry and personal care items.

Our innovative, strengths-based approach encourages residents to make their own choices and goals. They receive individual support and we act as determined advocates to help them find permanent housing.

What we offerEmergency shelter
Beds52
Support services
  • 24/7 on-site staff support
  • Rapid rehousing support specialist on staff to help secure permanent housing
  • Harm reduction support specialist on staff
  • Client-directed individual support and goal-setting
  • Referrals and housing placement support
  • Crisis intervention
  • Harm reduction supplies
  • Escort to appointments
Facilities
  • Secure street-level entranceway and reception
  • Medical room
  • Counselling rooms
  • 1-on-1 support rooms
  • Resident kitchen and lounges
  • Dining room with commercial grade kitchen
Accessibility We’re not able to accommodate wheelchairs, commodes, walkers or hospital beds.
PetsNo pets
SmokingNo smoking indoors
Length of stay 60 days for newly homeless, 100 days for chronically homeless. 
Parking Parking is not available.
Funding partner(s)BC Housing

How to request a bed

  • Beds are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. You don’t need a referral to stay with us. Availability is limited.
  • Once you’ve been assigned a bed, you’ll need to arrive at the shelter within two hours.  We’ll give you a welcome letter when you get here, explaining how the facility runs. It explains meal times and the services we offer to support you during your stay.
  • We don’t have a curfew.
  • If you stay with us and leave, we can hold the bed for up to 72 hours, subject to our missing persons protocol.
  • To help keep everyone safe, we may end or deny service to anyone who endangers staff and other guests.

What to expect from Powell Place

When life is uncertain, we can help you avoid being overwhelmed. Here are some helpful things to know about staying in our shelter:

Food

  • We provide your meals and can make referrals to food banks or other programs

Health needs

  • Health teams may visit or deliver medication to you. Our staff will help them contact you.
  • We do not hold or dispense medication

Identification and privacy

  • We don’t require your ID to stay with us but we’ll take a copy if you have it and are willing to share it
  • If you need ID, we’ll help connect you to the appropriate government agency
  • We won’t disclose your name to anyone other than when responding to an authorized request such as a police warrant or ACT team

Other support services 

  • Conflict resolution: We may collect information to assist but we don’t mediate disputes.
  • Paperwork: We can assist you with communication with various agencies but aren’t able to act as advocates or complete paperwork for you.
  • Taxes: We can refer you to services to help you manage your finances.

Personal belongings

  • You can bring up to two bags.
  • Carts are not permitted.
  • We can hold possessions for up to two weeks if you leave.

Visitors

  • For privacy and security reasons, we’re not able to allow visitors.

Contact Powell Place

Urgent calls

24-hour line

604-606-0403

Non-urgent information

Kim

Email: powellplacecoordinator@thebloomgroup.org

778-938-5754

What our residents have said

“Thank you for the safe supportive space for us to move from survival to thriving.”

“To all staff, including the cooks and janitors, we can’t thank you enough for all that you do for us ladies.”