As temperatures drop, the lives of young people experiencing homelessness are at serious risk. Cold weather conditions can be life threatening for those who don’t have a safe, warm place to call home. Exposure to the elements, especially in wet and freezing conditions, can lead to hypothermia, frostbite, and other serious health concerns. For many, winter becomes a season of survival.
According to the 2023 Homeless Count in Greater Vancouver, at least 385 young people under the age of 25 experience homelessness on any given night. Although we know this number must be much higher, based on the limitations of this survey. When temperatures fall below 10°C, prolonged exposure to the cold can lead to hypothermia, and 90% of deaths attributed to cold exposure occur on mildly cold days. Last winter, Vancouver saw extremely cold temperatures, as low as -13°C, which makes it even more critical to provide shelter and support for youth in need.
How We’re Supporting Youth This Winter
At Covenant House Vancouver, we are committed to showing up for young people in our community, to ensure that they have access to warmth, safety, and care. Here’s how we’re making a difference:
- Drop-In Centre: Located at 1302 Seymour Street, it is now open seven days a week until 10:30pm for youth to access warm food, showers, and support.
- Winter Shelter: In partnership with BC Housing, we have 10 beds available every night from 10pm to 8:30am, at 1302 Seymour Street. These beds provide more than just warmth — they offer a safe space with access to meals, showers, and clean clothing.
- Winter Supplies: Our team ensures that youth have access to warm clothing, gloves, toques, socks, and other winter essentials, to help them stay protected.
- Outreach Teams: Our dedicated Outreach teams are out in the community, to connect with youth and to offer essential support to those who may not yet be ready to access shelter services.
Chelsea Minhas, Chief Program and Impact Officer at Covenant House Vancouver, emphasizes the importance of these efforts:
“Our mission is to provide a safe haven for young people, and we recognize the urgent need for shelter and warmth during the cold and wet winter months. By offering these 10 beds on site, we ensure that more young people have access to the care, resources, and support that they need to get through these challenging months.”
How You Can Help
This winter, we invite you to be part of the solution by donating much-needed winter supplies. Items such as socks, gloves, toques, scarves, hand warmers, and gift cards to coffee shops can make a significant difference in helping youth stay warm and safe. Your generosity helps ensure that young people in need know they are not alone.
If you’d like to donate items, please contact Cory Kaban at 604-757-6064 or ckaban@covenanthousebc.org.
Together, we can provide warmth, care, and hope this winter.