Crisis Resources: During COVID-19
Prepared by Robert Hall
Gender-based Violence
WAVAW—www.wavaw.ca - Crisis Line: 604-255-6344
Rape Crisis Centre provides support to survivors of sexual violence who are self-identified
women, non-binary individuals and two-spirit people, via a 24-hour crisis and information line, justice support (courts and police), hospital accompaniment and advocacy, referrals to
resources as well as individual supportive counselling for individuals, indigenous individuals
and families of missing and murdered indigenous women.
BWSS—www.bwss.org
Crisis & Intake Line (limited hours): 604-687-1867
Supporting self-identified women and girls experiencing violence. Offers group & individual counselling, transition housing, support groups, victim services programs and legal advocacy, as well as individualized population-specific services for Indigenous women, black women, LGTBQ2S peoples, and Latin American women.
Shelters
Shelter Safe - https://www.sheltersafe.ca/
A Canada-wide online tracker for finding open shelters for women and children leaving violence.
BC Rent Bank - https://bcrentbank.ca/
Rent banks provide financial assistance in the form of repayable loans, to households at risk of eviction for reasons such as non-payment of rent or utilities.
Food Security
Quest Food Exchange—www.questoutreach.org (multiple locations across the lower
mainland) Quest Food Exchange is a not-for-profit organization that provides dignified access to a variety of affordable and healthy foods to individuals facing food security challenges in British Columbia. Not open to the general public, Quest Food Exchange works in collaboration with food suppliers who donate their surplus food and community resource partners who refer their clients. Clients must be referred by their counsellor or physician—referral forms available for download on website.
Great Vancouver Foodbank - https://foodbank.bc.ca
The GVFB provides food to people in need of assistance through their 13 locations across
Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and the North Shore.
COVID-19 Protection Measures: The GVFB has shifted all of our community food hubs to
pre-packed grocery bag distributions to protect the health of our clients, volunteers and
staff. The locations and schedules for the food hubs can be found here:
https://foodbank.bc.ca/find-food/locations/
Mental Health Support
The Crisis Centre
The crisis centre is running free, online, six-week workshops for people experiencing anxiety
and uncertainty during the pandemic:
https://crisiscentre.bc.ca/special-programming-during-the-current-health-situation/
Crisis Support Phone:
1-800-SUICIDE: (1-800-784-2433) (BC wide)
310-Mental Health: (310-6789) (no area code required, BC wide)
Fraser Health Crisis Line: (604-951-8855)
Greater Vancouver Distress Line: (604-872-3311)
Kuu-Us Crisis Response Services: (1-800-588-8717) (serves Indigenous Community Members)
Trans lifeline (1-877-330-6366) (trans-led organization for trans people)
Chat/ Online:(Available from Noon to 1AM)
Online Service for Adults: www.CrisisCentreChat.ca
Online Service for Youth: www.YouthinBC.com
Additional Information:
CLABC Crisis Line Association of BC: https://www.crisislines.bc.ca/mapcrisis-lines