Emergency Housing Ottawa: Shelters, Phones and Help Tonight
If you need emergency housing Ottawa tonight, start with one phone call. Call 3-1-1 (or toll-free 1-866-261-9799) and ask for shelter intake. The City will refer you to an available bed that fits your situation. This page lists the Ottawa shelters behind that referral, with verified phones, addresses, bed counts where published, hours and eligibility, so you know what to expect before you call or walk in.
Tonight in Ottawa
Call 3-1-1 first. In the daytime, press 1 for English or 2 for French, then press 4 for Social Services and speak to an Intake Specialist. After hours, dial 3-1-1 and select #2 to reach City Housing and Homelessness Services staff, who assess your situation, arrange transport if needed and refer you to an available bed. The after-hours #2 path is from the City of Ottawa December 8, 2025 winter response memo. Toll-free: 1-866-261-9799. If life threatening, call 9-1-1.
If shelters are full: the City activates overflow beds when needed. Call 3-1-1 for the current overflow location and for transport to shelter. Do not travel to an old overflow address without a referral: the City has closed its former physical-distancing emergency overflow centres, including the arena sites used in past winters, and no 2026-2027 overflow site list has been published by the City.
Shepherds of Good Hope direct extensions: call the main phone 613-789-8210, then ext. 2101 for the Transitional Emergency Shelter Program, ext. 2200 for the men's shelter, or ext. 2300 for the women's shelter. Use these extensions only with the main number 613-789-8210, as published by Shepherds of Good Hope. Source: Shepherds of Good Hope find-shelter page.
Families
Families are placed through 3-1-1: call 3-1-1 or 1-866-261-9799 and say you are a family with children. There is no walk-in family shelter address: intake refers you to a family shelter, transitional unit or motel placement. If shelters are full, families may be placed in hotel or motel rooms. Bring-list checklist: ID for each family member, children's medication, school items, phone charger. Ask 3-1-1 what the placement provides for meals and laundry.
Search 6,000+ verified Ontario listings in the directory
Use the EmergencyHousing.CA community directory to look up shelters, drop-ins, food programs and housing help across Ottawa and Ontario, with contact details checked against live sources.
Who goes where tonight
Find your group below, then call the number or go to the address shown. "Open 24 hours" is stated only where the provider says so. Last verified November 3, 2026.
| Who you are | Go here tonight | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | The Ottawa Mission | 35 Waller Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 7G4 | 613-234-1144 | Open 24 hours |
| Men | Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre | 171 George Street, Ottawa | 613-241-1573 | Street outreach transport runs 24 hours a day; call 3-1-1 for a referral |
| All genders | Shepherds of Good Hope | 256 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa | 613-789-8210 | Call 3-1-1 for a referral or call the main phone |
| Women and gender-diverse people | Cornerstone Housing for Women | 2980 Carling Avenue, Ottawa | 613-237-4669 | Call for current hours; shelter space is subject to availability |
| Women and children fleeing violence | Interval House of Ottawa | Address confidential - call first | 613-234-5181 | Open 24 hours (crisis line) |
| Youth aged 12 to 20 | Youth Services Bureau shelters | Location confidential - call first, or go to the YSB Downtown Drop-In, 147 Besserer Street | 613-789-8220 (young women); 613-907-8975 (young men) | Open 24 hours, 365 days a year |
| Families with children | City shelter intake | No walk-in address published - referral only | 3-1-1 or 1-866-261-9799 | Open 24 hours |
| Indigenous women and children fleeing abuse | Minwaashin Lodge - Oshki Kizis Lodge | Shelter location confidential - call first | 613-789-1141 | Open 24 hours (crisis line) |
Call first - tonight
3-1-1 - Ottawa shelter intake, 24 hours a day. Press 1 for English or 2 for French, then 4 for Social Services. After hours, dial 3-1-1 and select #2 to reach City Housing and Homelessness Services staff. Source: City of Ottawa winter services page; Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa guide; City of Ottawa December 8, 2025 winter response memo (after-hours #2 path).
1-866-261-9799 - Toll-free Ottawa shelter intake, for callers outside Ottawa or without local service. Source: Service Coordination Support housing navigation page.
2-1-1 - Information on drop-ins, food banks, Out of the Cold programs and community services. Source: City of Ottawa winter services page.
9-1-1 - Life-threatening emergency, including hypothermia or immediate danger.
If you are fleeing violence, do not wait for shelter intake. Call Interval House of Ottawa at 613-234-5181 (24/7 crisis line) or the Assaulted Women's Helpline at 1-866-863-0511 (24/7). Shelter addresses for violence-against-women shelters are kept confidential for safety.
What to do tonight, in order
- Call 3-1-1 or 1-866-261-9799. Tell intake who needs shelter, including children, youth, pets and any accessibility needs. Intake refers you to an available bed.
- If you cannot reach intake, go to a shelter listed below. The Ottawa Mission (35 Waller Street) and Shepherds of Good Hope (256 King Edward Avenue) accept walk-ins. Arrive early: the Mission starts bed sign-up at 9 AM.
- If you are under 21, call the Youth Services Bureau at 613-789-8220 (young women) or 613-907-8975 (young men), or go to the YSB Downtown Drop-In at 147 Besserer Street.
- If you are fleeing violence, call a violence-against-women shelter directly. See the fleeing violence table below. Do not go to a published address for these shelters: their locations are confidential.
- If you have a pet, ask about the Ottawa Humane Society SAFE program (613-725-3166 ext. 419) before you give up your animal. See the pets section below.
- If you are outside in extreme cold, call 3-1-1 for transport to shelter or 9-1-1 in a medical emergency. The Salvation Army outreach van provides transport to shelter 24 hours a day.
Men and all-gender shelters in Ottawa
These are the main emergency shelters for single adults in Ottawa. Bed counts are shown only where the provider publishes them. Listings for each shelter can be checked in the EmergencyHousing.CA community directory.
| Shelter | Who it serves | Phone | Address and hours | Beds | How to get in | Directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ottawa Mission | Men, and people identifying as male | 613-234-1144 | 35 Waller Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 7G4. Open 24/7, 365 days a year. | 179 emergency beds | Walk in. New-arrival bed sign-up starts at 9 AM at the front desk, first come, first served. Call 3-1-1 for a referral. | Find The Ottawa Mission in the directory |
| Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre | Men | 613-241-1573 | 171 George Street, Ottawa. Outreach program hours: Monday to Friday 6 AM to 3 AM; weekends 11 AM to 3 AM. | Not published by the provider - call 3-1-1 for current availability | Call 3-1-1 for a referral. Wheelchair-accessible shelter beds available here. Street outreach transport runs 24 hours a day. | Find the Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre in the directory |
| Shepherds of Good Hope | All genders; separate men's and women's shelters | 613-789-8210 (main phone) | Shelter: 256 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa. Head office: 233 Murray Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 5M9. | Not published on the provider website - secondary sources conflict, so no figure is given here. Call 3-1-1 for current availability. | Call 3-1-1 for a referral or call the main phone. Transitional Emergency Shelter Program ext. 2101; men's shelter ext. 2200; women's shelter ext. 2300. | Find Shepherds of Good Hope in the directory |
Women and gender-diverse shelters in Ottawa
| Shelter | Who it serves | Phone | Address and hours | Beds | How to get in | Directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornerstone Housing for Women | Women and gender-diverse people experiencing homelessness | 613-237-4669 | 2980 Carling Avenue, Ottawa. Call for current hours; shelter space is subject to availability. | Up to 165 people each night | Call 613-237-4669, or visit 2980 Carling Avenue if you cannot access a phone. Call 3-1-1 for a referral. | Find Cornerstone Housing for Women in the directory |
| Shepherds of Good Hope - Women's Shelter | Women and gender-diverse adults | 613-789-8210 ext. 2300 | 256 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa. | Not published on the provider website - call 3-1-1 for current availability | Call 3-1-1 for a referral or call the main phone, ext. 2300. | Find the Shepherds of Good Hope Women's Shelter in the directory |
Women fleeing violence should use the violence-against-women shelters in the fleeing violence table below, not the general shelters above. For daytime support, St. Joe's Women's Centre drop-in is listed in the drop-ins table.
Family shelters in Ottawa
There is no public walk-in family shelter address in Ottawa that could be verified for this page. Families are placed through City shelter intake. Call 3-1-1 or 1-866-261-9799 and say you are a family with children: intake will refer you to a family shelter, transitional unit or motel placement. Do not travel to an old family shelter address without a referral.
Why no address is listed: the former Carling Family Shelter at 2980 Carling Avenue is now the Cornerstone women's shelter, and the YMCA emergency family shelter closed in 2024. The YMCA site is now transitional housing for newcomer individuals (about 175 beds, City referral only, stays up to 12 months). Source: YMCA housing services record (211) and YMCA presentation to Pathways to Prosperity, November 2025.
Families fleeing violence can also call a violence-against-women shelter directly: Interval House (613-234-5181), Nelson House (613-225-3129) and Chrysalis House (613-591-5901) all shelter women with children. After night one, apply for rent-geared-to-income housing through the Social Housing Registry of Ottawa (613-526-2088) - see the next steps section.
Related guide: subsidized housing in Ottawa explains rent-geared-to-income housing and the Registry wait list.
Youth shelters in Ottawa (ages 12 to 20)
Youth Services Bureau (YSB) runs Ottawa's two youth emergency shelters. Shelter locations are confidential: call first. The YSB program pages say each shelter has 30 beds, serves ages 16 to 21 and is open 365 days a year, with transitional housing for up to one year. The YSB FAQ says emergency shelters serve youth aged 12 to 20. Youth aged 12 to 15 may need caregiver consent. Both figures are given here because the provider's own pages state them differently.
| Shelter | Who it serves | Phone | Address and hours | Beds | How to get in | Directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YSB Evelyn Horne Young Women's Shelter | Young women, emergency shelter ages 12 to 20; transitional housing ages 16 to 21 | 613-789-8220 | Location confidential - call first. Open 365 days a year, staffed 24 hours a day. | 30 beds | Call 613-789-8220 or go to the YSB Downtown Drop-In, 147 Besserer Street. | Find the YSB Young Women's Shelter in the directory |
| YSB Young Men's Shelter | Young men, emergency shelter ages 12 to 20; transitional housing ages 16 to 21 | 613-907-8975 | Location confidential - call first. Open 365 days a year, support available 24 hours a day. | 30 beds | Call 613-907-8975 or go to the YSB Downtown Drop-In, 147 Besserer Street. | Find the YSB Young Men's Shelter in the directory |
Youth in crisis can also call the Child, Youth and Family Crisis Line of Eastern Ontario at 613-260-2360 (24/7), administered by YSB. Source: Ottawa Victim Services resources page.
Indigenous shelters and support in Ottawa
| Service | Who it serves | Phone | Address and hours | Beds | How to get in | Directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minwaashin Lodge - Oshki Kizis Lodge | First Nations, Inuit and Metis women and children fleeing abuse and violence, regardless of status | 613-789-1141 (24/7 crisis line); 613-741-5590 also listed in directories | 2323 St. Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, ON K1G 4J8 (support centre). Shelter location is confidential - call the crisis line first. | 25 beds | Call the 24/7 crisis line at 613-789-1141. | Find Minwaashin Lodge in the directory |
Indigenous women can also call Talk4Healing at 1-855-554-HEAL (1-855-554-4325), a 24/7 talk, text and chat line. Source: Interval House of Ottawa resources page. A 30-bed Inuit violence-against-women shelter is being built in Ottawa with a full staff team planned for January 2027; it is not open yet, so it is not listed as a place to go tonight. Source: Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition.
Fleeing violence: women and gender-diverse shelters
These shelters take women and children fleeing abuse. Their street addresses are confidential and are deliberately not published here. Call the crisis line first: staff will arrange safe entry. All of these shelters can be looked up through the EmergencyHousing.CA community directory for referral information.
| Shelter | Who it serves | Phone | Hours | Beds | How to get in | Directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval House of Ottawa | Women and children fleeing abuse | 613-234-5181 (24/7 crisis line); office 613-234-8511 | 24/7 crisis line | Not published - call the crisis line | Call the crisis line. Mailing address: PO Box 40089, 2515 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON K1V 0W8. | Interval House of Ottawa directory listing |
| Nelson House of Ottawa-Carleton | Women and children fleeing abuse | 613-225-3129 (24-hour crisis line) | 24-hour crisis line; residential stays up to 10 weeks | 15 beds (charity record) | Call the crisis line. | Find Nelson House in the directory |
| Chrysalis House | Self-identified women and gender-diverse people aged 16 and over, and their dependants, fleeing violence | 613-591-5901; TTY 613-591-8912 | 24-hour emergency shelter | 25 beds (directory record) | Call 613-591-5901. | Find Chrysalis House in the directory |
| Maison d'Amitie | Francophone women fleeing violence | 613-747-0020; Fem'aide 1-877-336-2433 (24/7, French) | 24/7 | Not published - call first | Call 613-747-0020 or Fem'aide at 1-877-336-2433. | Find Maison d'Amitie in the directory |
| Harmony House | Women leaving violence - second-stage housing, not an emergency overnight shelter | 613-233-3386 (daytime only) | Daytime only | Not published - call first | Call 613-233-3386. Mailing address: M404, 1554 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1Z 7M4. | Find Harmony House in the directory |
Other 24/7 help: Assaulted Women's Helpline 1-866-863-0511; Unsafe at Home Ottawa secure text and chat at 613-704-5535 for women and gender-diverse people; Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre crisis line (see the EmergencyHousing.CA community directory for current contact details). If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
Homeless shelter Ottawa: what if you have a pet?
Most emergency shelters do not accept pets, except service animals. Do not let that stop you from seeking shelter: ask for help for your pet first.
- Ottawa Humane Society SAFE program (Sheltering Animals From Emergencies): free temporary foster care for pets of people facing housing instability, fleeing violence, or in hospital or treatment. No cost to the owner. Contact 613-725-3166 ext. 419 or [email protected]. Address: 245 West Hunt Club Road, Ottawa. Source: Ottawa Humane Society emergency pet sheltering page.
- Safe Pet Ottawa: temporary housing and care for pets of people fleeing violence. Ask a violence-against-women shelter worker about it. Source: Nelson House community resources page.
- Service animals are accepted in emergency shelters. Tell intake when you call 3-1-1.
Warming centres and drop-ins in Ottawa
The City of Ottawa winter services response for 2025-2026 reports over 1,600 beds in shelters and transitional housing, a 24/7 warming and respite service, and 24/7 outreach to connect unsheltered residents with safe indoor spaces. The City page does not publish specific warming centre street addresses: call 2-1-1 for the current Out of the Cold list and 3-1-1 for a shelter referral or transport out of the cold. Source: City of Ottawa winter services response page.
| Drop-in | Who it serves | Phone | Address and hours | Directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YSB Downtown Drop-In | Youth aged 12 to 20 | 613-241-7788 | 147 Besserer Street, Ottawa. Monday to Friday 12 PM to 6 PM; Saturday and Sunday 1 PM to 6 PM. | Find the YSB Downtown Drop-In in the directory |
| Operation Come Home | Youth aged 16 to 25 (drop-in); employment programs to age 29 | 613-230-4663 | 150 Gloucester Street, Ottawa. Morning drop-in Monday to Friday 8 AM to 12 PM; office hours Monday to Thursday 8 AM to 7:30 PM, Friday 8 AM to 4:30 PM, weekends 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. | Find Operation Come Home in the directory |
| St. Joe's Women's Centre | Women and their children experiencing low income or homelessness | 613-231-6722 | 151 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa. Monday 9:30 AM to 5 PM; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM; Wednesday 12 PM to 5 PM. Showers, laundry, food cupboard. | Find St. Joe's Women's Centre in the directory |
| Shepherds of Good Hope Soup Kitchen | Anyone in need of a meal | 613-789-8210 | 233 Murray Street, Ottawa. Ask the main phone for current meal times. | Find Shepherds of Good Hope in the directory |
After night one: the next steps
One night in shelter is the start, not the plan. Work through these steps with your shelter case manager or a housing worker.
- Apply for rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing. Contact the Social Housing Registry of Ottawa at 613-526-2088, 240 Catherine Street, Suite 110, Ottawa, ON K2P 2G8. Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM; Tuesday 1 PM to 4:30 PM. RGI rent is usually 30 per cent of a household's total monthly income. You are entitled to only one RGI offer: if you refuse it, your file will be cancelled. Source: City of Ottawa RGI assistance page and Registry application form.
- Ask about Special Priority. If you are being abused by someone you lived with in the past three months, you may qualify for Special Provincial Priority, which moves you to the top of the wait list. You will need supporting documents from a professional and an interview with Registry staff. Ask the Registry at 613-526-2088. Source: City of Ottawa RGI assistance page and Registry application form.
- Get housing help with the search. Housing Help (613-563-4532) serves low- to moderate-income people looking for housing in Ottawa; Action Housing (613-562-8219) offers a similar program. Source: Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa guide.
- Check the directory for more help. Search 6,000+ verified Ontario listings in the directory for food banks, health services, legal help and housing programs near you, and use the EmergencyHousing.CA housing locator tool to find help by location.
Related guides: rent-geared-to-income housing in Ontario, RGI eligibility in Ontario, and emergency housing across Ontario.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to call 3-1-1 before going to a shelter?
No, but it is the fastest way to find an open bed. The Ottawa Mission and Shepherds of Good Hope accept walk-ins, and youth can go to the YSB drop-in. Calling first saves a trip to a full shelter.
Can I bring my children to a shelter?
Yes. Family placements go through 3-1-1, and violence-against-women shelters take women with children. Tell intake the ages of your children when you call.
What should I bring?
Identification if you have it, medication, phone and charger, and a change of clothes. Lack of ID is not a reason to stay outside: tell intake and shelter staff.
Are Ottawa shelters free?
Yes. Emergency shelter, meals and basic services listed here are free. No shelter on this page charges for a bed.
What if every shelter is full?
Stay in contact with 3-1-1. The City activates overflow beds when needed, and outreach teams can transport you to a warming or respite space. In extreme cold, call 3-1-1 for transport or 9-1-1 in a medical emergency.
Your next step
Call 3-1-1 now (or 1-866-261-9799 toll-free) and ask for shelter intake. Then search 6,000+ verified Ontario listings in the directory for the services you will need after tonight, and read the Emergency Housing Ottawa guide and the subsidized housing in Ottawa guide to plan your next steps.