Find emergency housing Ontario: Help by City Tonight
Search 6,000+ verified Ontario listings in the directory - the Ontario Community Directory lists shelters, drop-ins, food, health and housing help by city, with verified phone numbers and hours. Use it to check a shelter before you travel.
If you need emergency housing Ontario help tonight, start with the intake number for the city or region where you are right now. This page lists verified shelter intake numbers for Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, London, Waterloo, York, Peterborough, Kingston and Durham, plus 211 Ontario for everywhere else in the province. Call first if you can: intake staff check what beds are open, match you to a shelter that fits your situation, and tell you what to do if no bed is open in that city.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Need help anywhere in Ontario and not sure where to start? Call or text 211. 211 Ontario is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, in more than 150 languages, according to 211 Ontario. It can find shelter, food, health and community services near you.
Find a shelter near you: use the EmergencyHousing.CA shelter locator or search the Ontario Community Directory on EmergencyHousing.CA for shelters, drop-ins and housing help in your area.
What emergency housing is
Emergency housing in Ontario means a safe place to sleep tonight when you have nowhere else to go. It is short-term, not permanent housing. Most emergency shelters provide a bed, meals, showers, laundry, storage for belongings, and staff who can connect you to health care, income support and longer-term housing help. Some shelters serve everyone, and some serve a specific group, such as women and children fleeing abuse, youth, families, or men. Intake staff will ask about your situation so they can send you to the right place, not just the nearest place.
Emergency housing assistance Ontario programs are run locally. Each city or region has its own Service Manager and its own intake system, so the number you call in Toronto is different from the number you call in Ottawa, Waterloo or Durham. That is why this page is organised by city and region, with the intake number for each place. The Ontario Community Directory lists individual shelters with their addresses, hours and phone numbers, for example the Shepherds of Good Hope Main Shelter directory listing in Ottawa and the Toronto Central Intake directory listing, so you can check the details for a specific shelter before you go.
Who it serves
Ontario homeless shelters serve people who are sleeping outside, in a car, in a place not meant for living, or in a home they have to leave for safety. That includes:
- Single adults, youth, and families with children
- People who have been evicted, lost housing after a fire or flood, or had a relationship break down
- People fleeing abuse or trafficking, including women and children
- Newcomers to Canada with nowhere to stay
- People leaving hospital, jail, or another institution with no home to go to
You do not need to be receiving Ontario Works or ODSP to stay in an emergency shelter. You do not need ID in most cases to get help on the first night, but bring ID if you have it, because it can speed up intake and later housing applications. If a shelter cannot take you because it is full or does not serve your group, intake staff should tell you the next option, such as another shelter, a warming centre in cold weather, or a motel placement in some regions.
What to bring
Bring only what you can carry. Shelters have limited storage, and you may need to move quickly. If you have them, bring:
- Photo ID, health card, and any housing or income papers you have
- Medication, prescriptions, and a list of any health needs
- Phone and charger, if you have them
- A change of clothes, toiletries, and anything you need for children with you
- Documents for a housing application, if you have started one, such as a rent-geared-to-income application
Do not bring valuables you cannot keep with you. Tell intake staff if you have a pet, a service animal, a mobility need, or a medical need, so they can match you to a shelter that can accommodate you. Tell them if you feel unsafe, if you need an interpreter, or if you need a women-only or family shelter.
What happens at intake
Intake is the first conversation, by phone or in person, where staff work out what you need and where you can stay. It usually includes:
- Your situation: where you slept last night, whether you are safe, who is with you, and whether you need help tonight.
- Matching: staff check which shelters have a bed open and which ones fit your age, gender, family size, health needs and safety needs.
- Referral: you are given a shelter name, address, and a time to arrive, or directions on how to get there. Some cities arrange transport.
- At the shelter: staff confirm your details, show you where to sleep, eat and wash, store your belongings, and explain house rules, curfew and meal times.
- Next steps: a worker should talk with you about income support, a rent-geared-to-income application, Special Priority if you are fleeing abuse, and other housing help. Ask for this if it is not offered.
If no bed is open, ask intake staff what to do next, and ask them to record that you called. In cold weather, ask about warming centres and overnight drop-ins. Call again later the same night if you are told to, because beds can open up. If you are turned away, call 211 Ontario for other options in your area.
Emergency housing by city and region
Call the intake number for the place where you are now. Hours and numbers can change, so if a number does not answer, call 211. Sources for every number are named in the table and listed in full under Sources. The Directory column links to the matching Ontario Community Directory search view for that city, and provider names in the table link to their individual directory listings where one exists.
| City / Region | Who to call first | Number | Hours and notes | Source | Directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa | City of Ottawa shelter intake, through 3-1-1 | 3-1-1; toll-free 1-866-261-9799 | 24 hours a day. Press 1 for English or 2 for French, then 4 for Social Services, to speak to an Intake Specialist, according to the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness. | Service Coordination Support, Ottawa; Shepherds of Good Hope; Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness | Search the directory for Ottawa shelters City of Ottawa shelter placement directory listing |
| Toronto | City of Toronto Central Intake | 416-338-4766; toll-free 1-877-338-3398 | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Central Intake is the required access point for Toronto shelter placements, according to a City of Toronto directive dated October 7, 2026. Email: [email protected] | City of Toronto, Toronto Shelter and Support Services Directive 2026-02 | Search the directory for Toronto shelters Toronto Central Intake directory listing |
| Hamilton | 211 Ontario | 2-1-1 | 24 hours a day. No single city-wide Hamilton emergency shelter central intake number was found in official sources checked on November 3, 2026, so 211 is the first call for Hamilton. For women fleeing violence, the Good Shepherd Centre Hamilton 24-hour crisis line is 905-523-6277. | 211 Ontario; Hamilton Police Service community resources; Good Shepherd Centres. See file notes. | Search the directory for Hamilton shelters City of Hamilton housing and homelessness services directory listing |
| London | City of London Coordinated Access | 519-661-4663 | Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Outside those hours, families can call Rotholme Family Shelter intake at 519-673-4114. In person: 355 Wellington Street, Suite 248, London. | Mission Services of London, Shelter Diversion | Search the directory for London shelters City of London Coordinated Access directory listing |
| Waterloo Region | First Connect, Region of Waterloo | Adults 18 and over: 519-624-9133 | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for adults. Families: 519-749-2450, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or 519-501-7947 after hours. Youth 16 to 25: 519-749-1450, 24 hours a day. | Region of Waterloo, Emergency Shelters and Transitional Housing. House of Friendship is one Waterloo Region shelter listed in the directory. | Search the directory for Waterloo Region shelters Waterloo Region shelter intake, First Connect, directory listing |
| York Region | York Region Emergency Housing Central Intake Line | 1-877-464-9675 ext. 76140 | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. People at risk of homelessness are also encouraged to call this line. | York Region, Emergency and Transitional Housing. 360kids Connections is one York Region youth shelter listed in the directory. | Search the directory for York Region shelters York Region Emergency Housing Central Intake directory listing |
| Peterborough | Brock Mission for men; YES Shelter for youth and families | Brock Mission: 705-748-4766 ext. 1. YES Shelter: 705-748-3851 | Both open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Brock Mission is at 217 Murray Street, Peterborough, for men 18 and older. YES Shelter is at 196 Brock Street, Peterborough, for youth 16 to 24 and families. | City of Peterborough, Emergency Shelter; YES Shelter for Youth and Families. Cameron House, the women's shelter run by Brock Mission, is also listed in the directory. | Search the directory for Peterborough shelters Brock Mission directory listing YES Shelter directory listing |
| Kingston | Home Base Housing, In From the Cold | 613-542-6672 ext. 2 | Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Adult co-ed shelter at 540 Montreal Street, Kingston. Families: same number, ext. 3, for Lily's Place, 333 Kingscourt Avenue. Youth 16 to 24: Kingston Youth Shelter, 613-549-4236, 365 Nelson Street. | City of Kingston, Homelessness Services shelter list, updated May 1, 2026 | Search the directory for Kingston shelters In From the Cold directory listing Kingston Youth Shelter directory listing |
| Durham Region | Region of Durham homelessness support | 905-666-6239 ext. 5510; toll-free 1-888-721-0622 ext. 5510; or dial 311 and press 4 | Outreach team available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Note: a Region of Durham page lists 905-668-4113 ext. 5510 for the same service. The number in this row is from the City of Oshawa page. Confirm with the Region if the first number does not connect. | City of Oshawa, Unsheltered and Homelessness; Region of Durham. Cornerstone Community Association Durham is one Durham emergency shelter listed in the directory. | Search the directory for Durham Region shelters Durham Region housing and homelessness intake directory listing |
Shelters by city: beds, phones and addresses
These are the shelters behind the intake numbers above, 2 to 3 verified shelters per city to start. Bed counts are shown only where the provider or the city publishes them; where no bed count is published, call the intake number for current availability. Availability changes nightly. Sources are named under each table. Last verified November 3, 2026.
Ottawa
| Shelter | Who it serves | Beds | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ottawa Mission | Men | 179 emergency beds | 613-234-1144 | 35 Waller Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 7G4. Open 24 hours. |
| Shepherds of Good Hope | All genders; separate men's and women's shelters | Not published by the provider | 613-789-8210 (ext. 2101 Transitional Emergency Shelter, ext. 2200 men's shelter, ext. 2300 women's shelter) | 256 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa |
| Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre | Men | Not published by the provider | 613-241-1573 | 171 George Street, Ottawa |
Sources: The Ottawa Mission emergency shelter page; Shepherds of Good Hope find-shelter page; Salvation Army Ontario. For the full Ottawa list, see our Emergency Housing Ottawa Hub.
Toronto
| Shelter | Who it serves | Beds | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred Victor - Bethlehem United Shelter | All genders, singles and couples, adults 18 and older, including LGBTQ2+ couples; pet friendly | 70 beds, wheelchair accessible | Call Toronto Central Intake 416-338-4766 (the provider's own pages list two different direct numbers, so use Central Intake) | 1161 Caledonia Road, North York, ON M6A 2W9 |
| Seaton House | Men 18 and older | 72 beds (Emergency Shelter Program); plus winter respite and harm-reduction programs | 416-392-5522 | 339 George Street, Toronto, ON M5A 2N2. Confirm with Central Intake before travelling: George Street Revitalization is moving residents to alternate locations. |
| Dixon Hall - The Schoolhouse | Men 25 and older; pet friendly; open 24 hours | 30 beds | 416-960-9240 | 349 George Street, Toronto, ON M5A 2N2 (the provider lists 354 George Street as a location; confirm with Central Intake) |
Sources: Fred Victor shelters and locations pages; Toronto Central Health Line (Seaton House listing last fully updated October 24, 2024; Dixon Hall listing last fully updated May 5, 2026); City of Toronto Central Intake 416-338-4766.
Hamilton
| Shelter | Who it serves | Beds | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good Shepherd Centre - Men's Emergency Shelter | Men | 54 beds, plus overflow spaces for up to 10 men; open 24 hours | 905-528-9109 | 135 Mary Street, Hamilton, ON L8N 3R1 |
| Mission Services of Hamilton - Men's Shelter | Male-identifying people over 18; will not turn anyone away during a cold alert | 58 beds; open 24 hours, 365 days a year | 905-528-7635 | 400 King Street East, Hamilton (between Victoria Ave N and West Ave N). The old address 325 James Street North is outdated - do not use it. |
| Good Shepherd - Notre Dame House | Youth aged 16 to 21 who are street-involved or homeless | 21 beds; open 24 hours | 905-308-8090 | 14 Cannon Street West, Hamilton, ON L8R 2B3 |
Sources: Good Shepherd Centres (Notre Dame House and Good Shepherd Centre pages); Mission Services of Hamilton men's shelter page. If you are in Hamilton and unsure where to start, call 211 Ontario.
London
| Shelter | Who it serves | Beds | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salvation Army Centre of Hope | Men and women 16 and older; first come, first served | 90 beds for men, 48 beds for women; 37 transitional rooms (maximum stay 1 year) | 519-661-0343 ext. 0 (bed availability) | 281 Wellington Street, London, ON N6B 2L4 (walk-in) |
| Mission Services - Rotholme Family Shelter | Families | Call intake for current availability | 519-673-4114 | Call intake for the address |
Sources: Salvation Army Centre of Hope emergency shelter page (centreofhope.ca). Note: the same page's FAQ section gives different figures (122 beds and 70 transition rooms) from its main text (90 + 48 beds and 37 rooms). The main-text figures are used here; call 519-661-0343 ext. 0 to confirm before travelling. Rotholme intake: Mission Services of London, Shelter Diversion.
Waterloo Region
| Shelter | Who it serves | Beds | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House of Friendship ShelterCare | Adults 25 and older, single men and couples | 100 spaces | 519-742-8327; access through First Connect 519-624-9133 | 190 Weber Street North, Waterloo |
| YWCA Cambridge - Women's Emergency Homeless Shelter | Women and gender-diverse individuals; open 24 hours | 20 beds | 226-894-2839; access through First Connect 519-624-9133 | 2 Grand Avenue South, Cambridge (temporary location since February 2025, at Grace Bible Church, while a permanent site is sought) |
| oneROOF Youth Services - Providing A Roof | Youth aged 16 to 25, co-ed; beds first come, first served; shelter hours 9:30 p.m. to 8:15 a.m. | 24 beds | Youth shelter access line 519-749-1450; daytime services 519-741-6415 | 35 Sheldon Avenue North, Kitchener, ON N2H 3M1 |
Sources: Region of Waterloo, Emergency Shelters and Transitional Housing; House of Friendship; YWCA Cambridge shelter page; oneROOF Providing A Roof page. Note: the former House of Friendship Charles Street Men's Hostel at 63 Charles Street East, Kitchener, is closed and was demolished starting October 2024; its replacement is ShelterCare above.
York Region
| Shelter | Who it serves | Beds | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 360kids - Connections Emergency Housing | Youth aged 16 to 26 experiencing homelessness; maximum stay 4 months | 14 single-occupancy rooms | 905-884-3070 | 10415 Yonge Street, Suite E, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 0Z3 (Richmond Hill Youth Hub) |
| Blue Door - Porter Place | Men 16 and older; year-round emergency housing | 30 men nightly | 905-898-1015; Blue Door toll-free 1-888-554-5525 | The Landing, 18838 Highway 11, East Gwillimbury, ON L9N 0C5 |
| Inn From the Cold, Newmarket | Adults 16 and older; emergency and transitional housing | 29 emergency beds plus 5 transitional beds | 905-895-8889 | 510 Penrose Street, Newmarket, ON L3Y 1A2 |
Sources: York Region, Emergency and Transitional Housing (central intake 1-877-464-9675 ext. 76140); 360kids Connections emergency housing page; Blue Door contact page and 2024 annual report; Inn From the Cold October 2025 RFP (29 emergency plus 5 transitional beds; an older York Region plan listed 25).
Peterborough
| Shelter | Who it serves | Beds | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brock Mission | Men 18 and older; open 24 hours | Call intake for current availability | 705-748-4766 ext. 1 | 217 Murray Street, Peterborough |
| YES Shelter for Youth and Families | Youth 16 to 24 and families; open 24 hours | 30 beds | 705-748-3851 | 196 Brock Street, Peterborough |
Sources: City of Peterborough, Emergency Shelter; YES Shelter for Youth and Families.
Kingston
| Shelter | Who it serves | Beds | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Base Housing - In From the Cold | Adults, co-ed; open 24 hours | Call intake for current availability | 613-542-6672 ext. 2 | 540 Montreal Street, Kingston |
| Lily's Place | Families | Call intake for current availability | 613-542-6672 ext. 3 | 333 Kingscourt Avenue, Kingston |
| Kingston Youth Shelter | Youth 16 to 24 | Call intake for current availability | 613-549-4236 | 365 Nelson Street, Kingston |
Sources: City of Kingston, Homelessness Services shelter list, updated May 1, 2026.
Durham Region
| Shelter | Who it serves | Beds | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornerstone Community Association Durham | Homeless males 16 and older; also a motel program for single men with children, couples with children, and seniors with extraordinary medical needs | 40 emergency beds plus 10 transitional beds | 905-433-0254 | 133 Simcoe Street South, Oshawa, ON L1H 4G8 |
| The Denise House | Women, with or without children, experiencing gender-based violence | 27 women and children | Crisis line 905-728-7311 or toll-free 1-800-263-3725 | Address confidential - call the crisis line first. Mailing address only: PO Box 30560, Oshawa, ON L1J 8L8. |
| Durham Youth Services - Joanne's House | Youth aged 16 to 24, male and female; no pets | 13 beds per Central East Healthline (the Town of Ajax lists 10) | 905-239-9477 | 82 Kings Crescent, Ajax, ON L1S 2M6 |
Sources: Central East Health Line (Cornerstone listing last updated October 21, 2025; Joanne's House listing last updated November 18, 2025); The Denise House history page and 211 Ontario; Town of Ajax community social supports page. Cornerstone's 40-bed figure comes from the Health Line listing, not from Cornerstone's own site text.
211 Ontario
If your city is not listed above, or if the intake number for your city does not answer, call or text 211. See the 211 Ontario directory listing for its phone, text and TTY numbers. 211 Ontario is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day by phone, text, chat and online, in more than 150 languages, according to 211 Ontario. It connects people to more than 60,000 government and community programs, according to 211 Ontario, including emergency shelter, food, health, mental health, income assistance and newcomer supports. You do not have to give your name to get information from 211.
Use 211 to find the shelter intake route for smaller cities and rural areas, including places in northern Ontario, eastern Ontario and southwestern Ontario that do not have a single central intake line. Search the Ontario Community Directory on EmergencyHousing.CA as well, and use the EmergencyHousing.CA shelter locator to find help near you.
Next steps: RGI, Special Priority, and OW / ODSP emergency funds
Emergency shelter is for tonight. The steps below are for what comes after tonight. Start them as soon as you can, because waitlists and applications take time.
Rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing
Rent-geared-to-income, or RGI, housing is subsidised housing where rent is based on household income. In Ontario, RGI is run by local Service Managers under the Housing Services Act, 2011. Each city or region has its own centralised waiting list and its own application. Apply through the Service Manager for the place where you want to live, and keep your application up to date, including your address, phone number, household size and income. Ask your shelter worker or 211 for the RGI application for your area.
Read the Ontario RGI guide on this site: Rent-Geared-to-Income Housing in Ontario and RGI Eligibility in Ontario. You can also search the directory for rent-geared-to-income housing help in your area.
Special Priority Policy (SPP)
Special Priority Policy, or SPP, is the highest priority category on Ontario RGI waiting lists. It is set out in Ontario Regulation 367/11 under the Housing Services Act, 2011, sections 52 to 58, according to the City of Toronto. SPP is for people who are eligible for RGI and who are victims of abuse or trafficking. That includes abuse by a person you live with, lived with, or who sponsors you as an immigrant, where you intend to live permanently apart from that person. You must have someone verify your claim, and a qualified professional must complete a verification record, according to the City of Toronto. If you are fleeing abuse, tell your shelter worker or RGI office that you want to apply for Special Priority, and ask what verification they need. Do not wait until you leave a shelter to start this. If you are in danger now, call 911, or contact the Assaulted Women's Helpline directory listing for 24-hour support.
Ontario Works and ODSP emergency funds
If you are in a crisis or emergency, such as a fire, a flood, loss of home, or a concern for your safety, you may qualify for Emergency Assistance, which is a temporary period of financial assistance. The Region of Durham states that Emergency Assistance may cover a temporary, two-week period. Apply for Ontario Works, ODSP or Emergency Assistance online through the provincial Social Assistance Digital Application, or by calling the provincial intake line at 1-888-999-1142, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., according to the Region of Durham and the City of Ottawa. The telephone application takes about one hour, according to the Region of Durham. If you are already receiving Ontario Works or ODSP, tell your caseworker you are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and ask about emergency shelter costs, housing stabilisation funds, and help with rent or utility arrears in your area. Do not assume an amount: ask the office what you qualify for, because amounts depend on your household, income and situation.
Emergency Assistance Ontario - how much, how long
The table below gives the amounts a single person can expect, so you can plan. Amounts rise by household size. Checked November 3, 2026.
| Help | How much (single person) | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Assistance | About $733 a month, the same as the Ontario Works single-person maximum ($343 basic needs + $390 shelter allowance) | Short-term crisis help, usually up to 48 days in Ottawa; the Region of Durham states a temporary two-week period |
| Ontario Works (OW) shelter allowance | $390 a month maximum for a single person, inside the $733 OW total | Monthly, while you receive Ontario Works |
| Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) | Up to $1,436 a month for a single person ($825 basic needs + $611 shelter), as of July 2026 | Monthly, while you receive ODSP |
Sources: Ontario.ca - Ontario Works and Ontario.ca - ODSP; City of Ottawa Emergency Assistance (up to 48 days); Region of Durham (temporary two-week period). OW has been frozen at $733 since 2018; ODSP rose 1.9 percent on July 1, 2026. If you are behind on a utility bill, see the key dates section below for the winter disconnection ban and the Ontario Electricity Support Program.
If you received an eviction notice
A notice from your landlord does not evict you on its own. Only the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) can order an eviction, and only the Sheriff can enforce it. Work through these steps in order, and get help early.
- Do not move out. A notice (N4, N5, N12 or N13) is the start of a process, not an eviction order. Staying put while you get advice protects your rights.
- Document everything. Keep the notice, your lease, rent receipts, photos of disrepair, and a written record of every conversation with your landlord, with dates.
- Call 211 Ontario to find your local community legal clinic. Clinics give free legal help to tenants with low incomes, including eviction defence, repairs, rent and tenant-protection issues. Find yours through 211 or Legal Aid Ontario at legalaid.on.ca, toll-free 1-800-668-8258.
- Contact Tenant Duty Counsel before your hearing date. The Tenant Duty Counsel Program, run by the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) and funded by Legal Aid Ontario, gives free same-day advice at LTB hearings: lawyers and legal workers who review your notice, help with forms and try to negotiate with your landlord. Sign up at tdc.acto.ca, or sign in 30 minutes before your hearing. For general LTB information, call 1-888-332-3234.
Legal Aid Ontario box: Legal Aid Ontario funds community legal clinics across the province and runs the Tenant Duty Counsel Program for tenants facing eviction. If you cannot afford a lawyer, call Legal Aid Ontario toll-free at 1-800-668-8258 (Monday to Friday) or visit legalaid.on.ca to find the clinic for your area. Checked November 3, 2026.
Key dates: winter utility protection and more
November 15 to April 30: under Ontario Energy Board rules, electricity and natural gas distributors cannot disconnect a home for non-payment from November 15, 2026 to April 30, 2027. The ban covers residential customers only.
The bill still has to be paid. Balances keep growing during the ban, including interest on amounts owing, and a distributor can disconnect once the ban lifts on April 30, 2027 if arrears are unresolved. If you are behind, ask your utility about a payment plan and the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) now, rather than in spring. OESP is a monthly credit applied directly to your electricity bill, $35 to $75 a month for most eligible households, $52 to $113 for homes with electric heat or qualifying medical devices. Apply at OESP.ca.
See the full calendar of payment dates, rent rules and program deadlines on our Key Dates page, and the Ontario Energy Board's bill help page at oeb.ca/billhelp.
Ottawa: more help
If you are in Ottawa, this Ontario page is the starting point. For Ottawa-specific shelter, housing and next-step help, see Emergency Housing Ottawa Hub and Emergency Housing Ottawa. For subsidised housing in Ottawa, see Subsidized Housing Ottawa. Start at the EmergencyHousing.CA homepage for all programs, and search the Ontario Community Directory for Ottawa shelters, drop-ins and housing help. For subsidised housing applications in Ottawa, see the Social Housing Registry of Ottawa directory listing and the City of Ottawa Ontario Works directory listing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need ID or money to stay in an emergency shelter in Ontario?
No. Shelters are for people with nowhere else to go. Bring ID if you have it, because it helps with intake and housing applications, but a lack of ID or money should not stop you from calling intake or 211.
What if the shelter is full?
Ask intake staff for the next option, call again later, and call 211 for other shelters, warming centres, drop-ins or motel placements in your region. In cold weather, ask specifically about warming centres.
Can families stay together in a shelter?
Many shelters serve families, and some cities have a separate family intake line, such as Waterloo Region and Peterborough. Tell intake staff who is with you, including children, so they can match you to a family shelter.
Is emergency housing free?
Emergency shelter stays in Ontario are provided without a charge to the person staying there. If anyone asks you to pay for an emergency shelter bed, ask intake staff or 211 to confirm the arrangement.
Your next step
Call the intake number for your city now. Then search 6,000+ verified Ontario listings in the directory to check the shelter, drop-in or housing service nearest you, including its address, hours and phone number. If you are in Ottawa, continue with the Emergency Housing Ottawa Hub. If you need longer-term help, start a rent-geared-to-income application and ask about Special Priority if you are fleeing abuse.
Sources
Last verified: November 3, 2026. Every phone number on this page was checked against the source named here on that date. Hours, numbers and services can change. Call the number listed, or 211, to confirm before you travel.
- Ottawa 3-1-1 and toll-free 1-866-261-9799: Service Coordination Support, Housing Navigation in Ottawa, stating "Ottawa Shelter Intake: 3-1-1 or toll-free at 1-866-261-9799"; Shepherds of Good Hope, Find Shelter, stating to call 3-1-1 to get referred to shelter; Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, Seeking Help, stating for Ottawa shelter call 3-1-1, press 1 for English or 2 for French, then press 4 for Social Services.
- Toronto 416-338-4766 and toll-free 1-877-338-3398: City of Toronto, Toronto Shelter and Support Services Directive 2026-02, dated October 7, 2026, stating Central Intake can be reached 24/7 by phone at 416-338-4766 or 1-877-338-3398, or by calling 311, or by email at [email protected].
- Hamilton: 211 Ontario, as above. Good Shepherd 24-hour crisis line 905-523-6277: Hamilton Police Service, Community Resources, and Newcomers in Hamilton, Crisis Intervention, listing Good Shepherd Centres 24-hour crisis line 905-523-6277. No single Hamilton central intake number was found.
- London 519-661-4663 and Rotholme 519-673-4114: Mission Services of London, Shelter Diversion, stating to reach the City of London Coordinated Access team at 519-661-4663, Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and outside those hours to call Rotholme Family Shelter intake at 519-673-4114.
- Waterloo Region 519-624-9133, families 519-749-2450 and after hours 519-501-7947, youth 519-749-1450: Region of Waterloo, Emergency Shelters and Transitional Housing, stating adults 18 and over call First Connect at 519-624-9133, 24/7, families call 519-749-2450, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, or 519-501-7947 after hours, and youth 16 to 25 call 519-749-1450, 24/7.
- York Region 1-877-464-9675 ext. 76140: York Region, Emergency and Transitional Housing, stating the York Region Emergency Housing Central Intake Line is 1-877-464-9675 ext. 76140, answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Peterborough Brock Mission 705-748-4766 ext. 1 and YES Shelter 705-748-3851: City of Peterborough, Emergency Shelter, stating Brock Mission staff can be reached at 705-748-4766 extension 1, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and YES Shelter staff can be reached at 705-748-3851, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. YES Shelter confirms 30 beds for youth 16 to 24 and families at 196 Brock Street, Peterborough.
- Kingston 613-542-6672 ext. 2 and ext. 3, youth 613-549-4236: City of Kingston, Homelessness Services shelter list, updated May 1, 2026, listing In From the Cold Emergency Shelter, 540 Montreal Street, phone 613-542-6672 ext. 2, Lily's Place for families, 333 Kingscourt Avenue, phone 613-542-6672 ext. 3, and Kingston Youth Shelter, 365 Nelson Street, phone 613-549-4236.
- Durham Region 905-666-6239 ext. 5510, toll-free 1-888-721-0622 ext. 5510, 311 press 4: City of Oshawa, Unsheltered and Homelessness, stating if you need support or shelter, contact the Region of Durham at 905-666-6239 extension 5510, outreach available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A Region of Durham page lists 905-668-4113 ext. 5510 for the same service. Both are recorded here so the discrepancy is visible.
- 211 Ontario: 211 Ontario, 211 During Emergencies, stating 211 is Ontario's free, confidential service, available 24 hours a day by phone, text, chat and online in more than 150 languages.
- Ontario Works and Emergency Assistance 1-888-999-1142: Region of Durham, Ontario Works (Social Assistance), stating Emergency Assistance is available for people in crisis, and may qualify for a temporary, two-week period of financial assistance, and to call toll-free 1-888-999-1142; City of Ottawa, Apply for Ontario Works, stating the toll-free line is open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Special Priority Policy: City of Toronto, Special Priority Program (SPP), stating SPP is reserved for people eligible for RGI who are victims of abuse or trafficking as defined in the Housing Services Act, 2011, Ontario Regulation 367/11, sections 52 to 58, and that a verification record by a qualified professional is required.
- Ontario Community Directory: the directory lists 6,000+ Ontario resources, according to the directory itself. Every individual directory record page linked from this page was checked on November 3, 2026 and returned 200. Directory search views use the directory's own search pattern, declared in the directory's SearchAction metadata. Providers named on this page that have no individual directory record page are linked to the directory search view for their city instead. No provider was linked to a record page that was not verified.
- Emergency Assistance money table: OW $733 and ODSP $1,436 (July 2026) - ISAC July 2026 rates sheet, Ontario.ca, and the site's own /Legislated/rates.php (OW $343 basic needs + $390 shelter; ODSP $825 + $611; ODSP indexed 1.9 percent July 1, 2026; OW frozen since 2018). Emergency Assistance up to 48 days - City of Ottawa Emergency Assistance page; temporary two-week period - Region of Durham.
- Winter disconnection ban November 15, 2026 to April 30, 2027 and OESP credits $35 to $75 standard, $52 to $113 enhanced - Ontario Energy Board, bill help page (oeb.ca/billhelp) and OESP program page.
- Eviction checklist and Legal Aid Ontario box: Tenant Duty Counsel Program run by the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) and funded by Legal Aid Ontario, sign up at tdc.acto.ca; Legal Aid Ontario toll-free 1-800-668-8258; Landlord and Tenant Board 1-888-332-3234 - CLEO, Fighting an eviction, and Legal Aid Ontario.
- Search Console context for this page: Google Search Console, 28 days to November 3, 2026, 315 clicks, 65,243 impressions, 0.5 percent CTR, average position 28.7. "Emergency housing Ontario" had 0 clicks, 13 impressions, position 4.3. This page was built to fill the Ontario-wide hub gap found in that study. Those figures are site analytics, not shelter facts, and no shelter number on this page comes from that study.