Emergency Shelter Ottawa: Find a Bed Tonight
If you need an emergency shelter in Ottawa tonight, start with one phone call. Shelter placement in Ottawa goes through 3-1-1 (or toll-free 1-866-261-9799): City intake refers you to an available bed that fits your situation. This page lists the Ottawa shelters behind that referral, with verified phones and addresses, so you know what to expect before you call or walk in. For the full guide, with bed counts, hours, drop-ins, pets and next steps, see the Emergency Housing Ottawa hub.
Call first - tonight
3-1-1 - Ottawa shelter intake, 24 hours a day. In the daytime, press 1 for English or 2 for French, then press 4 for Social Services. After hours, dial 3-1-1 and select #2 to reach City Housing and Homelessness Services staff.
1-866-261-9799 - Toll-free Ottawa shelter intake, for callers outside Ottawa or without local service.
2-1-1 - Information on drop-ins, food banks, Out of the Cold programs and community services.
9-1-1 - Life-threatening emergency, including hypothermia or immediate danger.
Tonight in Ottawa
Call 3-1-1 first. Intake assesses your situation, arranges transport if needed and refers you to an available bed. The Ottawa Mission and Shepherds of Good Hope also accept walk-ins: the Mission starts bed sign-up at 9 AM.
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, 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.
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 - 179 emergency beds | 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 | Call 3-1-1 for a referral; street outreach transport runs 24 hours a day |
| 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 - up to 165 people each night | 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 - 30 beds each | 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 - 25 beds | Shelter location confidential - call first | 613-789-1141 | Open 24 hours (crisis line) |
Check any shelter above in the EmergencyHousing.CA community directory for referral information and current contact details.
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.
Fleeing violence
If you are fleeing violence, do not wait for shelter intake. Call a violence-against-women shelter directly: Interval House of Ottawa at 613-234-5181 (24/7 crisis line), Nelson House at 613-225-3129 (24-hour crisis line), Chrysalis House at 613-591-5901, or Maison d'Amitie at 613-747-0020. You can also call the Assaulted Women's Helpline at 1-866-863-0511 (24/7). Shelter addresses for violence-against-women shelters are kept confidential for safety. Find referral information for each shelter in the EmergencyHousing.CA community directory.
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.
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 read the Emergency Housing Ottawa hub for the full guide - bed counts, hours, drop-ins, pets and what to do after night one - and search 6,000+ verified Ontario listings in the directory for the services you will need after tonight.