Nanaimo Social Services & Resources
Looking for social services and resources in Nanaimo? HelpSeeker is a free network offering over 770 social services, programs, resources, helplines, and benefits across Nanaimo in areas including shelter and housing, domestic violence, food services, and others.
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Find over 90 housing resources, 130 mental health resources, 60 food support services, 60 recreational services, 230 education programs & resources, and more.
Homelessness
Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society
Provides housing to single adults with disabilities, at-risk adults, singles and low-income families. Applications are available through the NAHS office, by calling BC Housing at 1 (800) 257-7756, or on the BC Housing website, www.bchousing.org.
ICCS - Orca Place
Orca Place is a Supportive Housing program that will take place in a modular style apartment building built by BC Housing. The building will contain 52 studio and one-bedroom suites, including 6 accessible units. Individuals who participate in the program will sign a program participant agreement and receive a personal support plan.
Nanaimo District Senior Citizens' Housing Development Society
The society provides low-cost residential accommodation and a health care facility in Nanaimo, BC., including the operation of 2 buildings with 30 and 45 subsidized units, respectively.
Groupe Denux - Nanaimo
Our buildings in Nanaimo are located near central areas, including the major shopping areas, Malaspina College, the General Hospital, and other key town landmarks. Nanaimo is among British Columbia’s most liveable cities, having a favourable balance of lifestyle, employment and investment opportunities.
Nanaimo Youth Services - Housing & Supportive Living - Rowe House
As part of the Housing First Initiative, Nanaimo Youth Services Association operates our Rowe House housing complex, located on Haliburton Street in a refurbished historical rooming house. At Rowe, we have 14 unique single units available to youth between the ages of 19 and 29 years old. Each room is fully furnished with a dresser, fridge and sink. On each floor, there is a common kitchen and bathroom area.
Food Services
Kiwanis Village Nanaimo - Meals on Wheels
For nearly two decades, Meals on Wheels of Nanaimo and Kiwanis Village have worked together to serve people who require a nutritious hot meal on a daily basis. Through the shared vision of our volunteer boards, the program has evolved into an invaluable and necessary initiative, community service at its best. Meals can be provided on an ongoing basis or short term if you are recovering from illness or surgery. We deliver meals to clients in Nanaimo and Lantzville. Meals are delivered from Monday to Saturday.
Community Family Services - Cooking & Non-Cooking Food Hampers
Nanaimo Community Kitchens Society
Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank Warehouse & Office
Other non-profits and schools can apply and collect food free of charge for their meal programs Monday – Friday 10 am – 2 pm. Farmers can apply and collect surplus food unfit for humans at this location Monday – Friday 10 am – 2 pm. Hamper 2 Your Home applications can be brought to the 210 Fry Street Office Monday – Friday 10 am – 2 pm.
Nanaimo Foodshare
Nanaimo Foodshare Society is a registered charity with a long history of working with community partners to address hunger in the community, build food skills, bring the community together to share resources, and build community capacity to provide healthy foods to everyone. Established in 1997 and registered as a charity in 2000, we connect the community with resources, skills, and knowledge to create change that increases access to healthy food for everyone.
Domestic Violence
Service listings related to domestic violence in Nanaimo.
Domestic Violence Response Program (DVRP)
DVRP is part of a safer family and community response to domestic violence. DVRP uses the “Invitation to Responsibility” for its approach to dealing with domestic violence. The program considers the importance of framing the problem and its resolutions in ways that identify a man’s agency and pre-existing capacity to act respectfully and resolve interpersonal conflict, and access skills and abilities that promote positive relationships.
ICCS - Samaritan House
NFLA - Beyond Blame
A life-changing group that supports men to move beyond abusive behaviours and to build healthy relationships. This is a 30-hour program for men who want to stop being abusive and learn ways to build relationships based on equality and mutual respect.
Nanaimo Regional General Hospital - Forensic Nursing (Relationship Violence and Sexual Assault Service)
Provides care by a specially trained team of nurses and forensic nurse examiners to people of all ages and genders who have been sexually assaulted or have experienced intentional relationship violence within the past seven days. Services are confidential and may include assessment and treatment, pregnancy prevention, forensic sample collection, emotional support, medical reports for police, and referrals to health, legal, and community-based support services.
Nanaimo RCMP Victim Services
Assists victims and witnesses of all types of crime and other trauma, including their families and significant others. Provides emotional support and practical assistance such as form completion assistance, liaison with justice system personnel, and court orientation, preparation, and accompaniment when possible. Also provides information about the criminal justice system, court proceedings, case status, and hearing dates. Provides referrals to other community agencies. Serves Cassidy (south to the bridge), Cedar, Gabriola Island, Lantzville, and Nanaimo.
Mental Health
Service listings and resources related to mental health and addictions in Nanaimo.
Edgewood Inpatient Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Centre
Setting us apart from others, Edgewood’s full-time doctors are experts in the field of addiction medicine and psychiatry, including drug and alcohol withdrawal treatment. They dedicate their time exclusively to Edgewood – full-time, on-site, providing the best possible medical and psychiatric care to every individual who walks through our doors. With over 100 years of combined experience working directly with patients across our network, our doctors and psychiatrists provide a level of expertise like no others. Edgewood’s inpatient mental health and addiction treatment centre is a recognized medical facility.
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) - Nanaimo
Provides treatment and psychosocial rehabilitation support for adults with complex recovery needs, including chemical dependency, serious mental illness, concurrent disorders, and/or significantly impaired functioning. Services include crisis assessment and intervention, psychiatric or psychological treatment, psychiatric medication, daily living activities, life skills training, peer support, finding and maintaining work, and family-centred services. A multidisciplinary mental health team provides mobile services delivered in the community. A referral is required through Pathways or directly from the community. Serves Nanaimo and nearby areas.
Island Health - Nanaimo Mental Health & Substance Use Centre (MHSU)
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) - Mid-Island Branch
CMHA Mid-Island delivers services to people living in and between Ladysmith and Comox Valley. Programs and Services including housing, education, employment support, homeless outreach and an overdose prevention site.
Nanaimo Community Outreach Response (COR)
Mobile outreach service providing community-based crisis response services, including street-based outreach. COR team is comprised of nurses, social workers, clinicians, rehab workers and peer support workers.
COR crisis services: Serves/supports people of all ages who are experiencing urgent distress or immediate concerns related to mental health and/or substance use issues. The response may include consultation, assessment, referral, and short-term follow-up.
COR homelessness services: Provides street-based services to persons who are experiencing ongoing homelessness in Nanaimo. Service includes support and referrals for mental health and substance use issues, harm reduction supplies and support are offered, as well as mental, physical or emotional assessments and supports. To access this service, call (250) 741-7645. Contact number is only for individuals who are experiencing homelessness and can contact this number directly.
Offers counselling and trauma healing from a somatic perspective.
Specializes in substance and process addictions and trauma healing, including Residential School Trauma and its intergenerational effects.
Fee for service and third party billing, CVAP, EAP, Residential School, NTC, First Nations and Inuit Health.
Offices in Port Alberni and Nanaimo.
Training & Education
Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP) - Nanaimo
Vancouver Island University Library - Nanaimo Campus
Non-students can get a community borrower’s card by showing an ID with a current address.
Nanaimo Language Centre
Nanaimo Language Centre is dedicated to providing the highest quality of education and service to learners of all ages and abilities. Since we began in 2016, we have expanded in size and vision to meet the increasing volume and diverse needs of local residents, temporary residents and international students from all over the world. We provide quality, learner-centred language instruction to learners of all ages and abilities.
TechWORKS for Young Adults
TechWORKS offers training to young adults aged 17 – 29 on Vancouver Island who want to enhance their employability and workplace digital skills. This is a 6-week program of career and digital training in a virtual classroom followed by work experience and/or job placement. TechWORKS provides Career Coaching and Job Search Development with a focus on writing resumes and cover letters, learning interview skills and business communication, and navigating the hidden job market.
Clay Tree Society for People with Developmental Disabilities - Life Skills
covid-19/Coronavirus
The Salvation Army Nanaimo - Community Family Services
Community Services is open from 9 am to 1 pm Monday to Friday. Cooking and Non-Cooking Food Hampers are available during this time. Income Tax information may be dropped off for free Income Tax Returns to be completed and picked up approximately 1 week later. Drop-In for referrals to other Community Resources available. Food hampers available Monday to Friday from 9:00 am-1:00 pm. Must show identification for self and everyone in the family. Bread & pastries available during meal times 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm & 4:00pm – 5:30pm Monday to Friday.
Nanaimo Unitarian Shelter
We continue to be open 5:30 pm – 7:00 am. We expect to reduce our capacity from 24 beds to accommodate a measure of social distancing. Visits by volunteers, contractors, tours, suppliers and other visitors are suspended until further notice. Only staff, guests, VIHA staff or RCMP, will be welcome on site. We have enhanced sanitization and hygiene activities and will provide hygiene and social-distancing information to our guests at every opportunity. We have acquired supplies to make our own hand sanitizers for our own use and to distribute to guests. We continue to offer free showers at Caledonia Park on behalf of the City of Nanaimo, monitoring the potential for service change.
Caledonia Park Community Shower Program
Free access to showers for people experiencing homelessness. We have towels, toiletries (soap, shampoo, etc.) and serve hot chocolate while you wait. This program is in Caledonia Park by the soccer field. For the safety of all persons using the showers, we are only allowing 3 people per shower room at a time. We have opened another shower room, so there are still as many spaces as possible. We clean each room thoroughly after each shower and hope that you can also help us keep them clean. Deep cleaning happens each day after the program.
Nanaimo 7-10 Club Society
COVID19 Update: The Nanaimo 7-10 Club has scaled back its service from a served sit down environment to take out only. We are now offering a bag lunch, coffee and a cup of soup to go. Provided staff and volunteers are available to do so the service will continue.
Nanaimo Youth Services Association
COVID19 Update: To follow government guidance on “social distancing,” our two main offices will be open for business while closed to public access. Youth can contact NYSA for supports via telephone or Internet
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