Image: The former Red Lion Inn and Suites at 2509 Pauline Street in Abbotsford turned into a 22-space shelter in April 2025. / BC Housing

By Alyssa Conti

HOUSING SUPPORT

67 new homeless shelter spaces opening in Abbotsford

May 16, 2025 | 12:58 PM

ABBOTSFORD — The B.C. government is working to open more doors for Abbotsford residents who have nowhere else to go.

At 2539 Montvue Ave., 30 shelter spaces are now complete, and people can start moving in in June. Renovations for the Sparrow Shelter at 1661 McCallum Rd. will also begin this summer, with the shelter expected to increase capacity to 15 spaces by fall of 2025.

“This is another example of our work to bring people safely indoors with access to the important services they need to have full, healthy lives,” said Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Ravi Kahlon. “Homelessness and encampments are a tough challenge, but we’re starting to make real progress in Abbotsford with the new units opening.”

Operators of these shelters provide a variety of services, including life-skills training, referrals to employment assistance and counselling, and physical and mental health resources. At least two staff members will be on site 24/7, and security will include camera monitors and a single point of entry.

“Shelters give people chances to clean their lives up, give them opportunities like connecting them to a job, getting taxes done, getting stuff that they’re not good at doing, and figuring out what resources are available to them,” said Roy, who has lived experience. “Shelters help people sleep better, stay clean, find opportunities to get clean [off drugs], connect with peers to help them move forward in life.”

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Continued support

The upcoming shelter units are in addition to the 22 spaces that opened up at 2509 Pauline Street back in early April, as well as a supportive housing project that began construction the month prior.

“Ensuring everyone in Abbotsford has access to safe and supportive housing is essential, and we are grateful to the Province of B.C. for investing in Abbotsford through these additional shelter spaces to support our most vulnerable residents,” said Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens.

An Abbotsford supportive housing project that broke ground in April 2025. Source: BC Housing

The City signed an MOU with the Province in April 2024 to support people experiencing homelessness, as March 2023 data showed over 1,000 unhoused people living in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, Kent and the surrounding communities.

The Fraser Health region also saw 117 deaths that year. Fraser East, from Abbotsford to Hope, had the third-highest fatalities among all care service areas.