Overnight shelter opens in Coquitlam with 20 beds and a hot meal
An overnight shelter with 20 beds has opened at the former Riverview Hospital site in Coquitlam, operated by Progressive Housing Society and running nightly from 8 pm to 7 am through March 31.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on tricitiesdispatch.com.
An overnight shelter with 20 beds has opened for people experiencing homelessness in the Tri-Cities, with Coquitlam as one of the pickup points, the Tri-Cities Dispatch reported on November 3.
Progressive Housing Society operates the shelter at Səmiq̓wəʔelə, the former Riverview Hospital site in Coquitlam. It runs from 8 pm to 7 am nightly and includes a hot meal for guests.
Who it serves and how to access it
Walk-ins are not permitted. Guests must be picked up at one of three transit-accessible locations: Lincoln SkyTrain, Christmas Way at Pheasant Street, or Kingsway at Jane Street.
Progressive Housing Society describes the shelter as a community effort. "This temporary shelter program is more than just a refuge from the harsh winter weather; it's a community effort dedicated to supporting and uplifting individuals facing homelessness," the society stated in a release quoted by the Tri-Cities Dispatch.
The society also says the shelter helps guests beyond the overnight stay. "We provide connections to healthcare, mental health resources, and help with housing applications, aiming to address the broader needs of our guests," it stated.
The shelter is open through March 31.
Why it opened now
The Tri-Cities previously relied on a rotating group of churches that offered overnight shelter over fall and winter. That program stopped the year before because demand had grown beyond what the churches could handle.
The toxic drug supply was part of the reason. Rev. David Cathcart of Trinity United Church explained in a letter to the City of Port Coquitlam, quoted by the Tri-Cities Dispatch, that the situation "makes a 12 hour stay in a shelter (that is not equipped to be a safe use site), impossible for people who need to use throughout the night."
There is a year-round shelter at 3030 Gordon Avenue in the area, but the Tri-Cities Dispatch reports it is generally at capacity with an encampment outside.
What residents should know
The shelter site at Səmiq̓wəʔelə is inside Coquitlam, and two of the three pickup points are in Coquitlam. The pickup model means people are met at a known transit stop rather than walking to the site on their own.
Residents who know someone who needs a place to sleep can direct them to the pickup locations. The shelter opens each night at 8 pm and closes at 7 am. It runs through March 31.
Questions this story answers
Where is the overnight shelter located?
The shelter is at the former Riverview Hospital, now known as Səmiq̓wəʔelə, in Coquitlam. Walk-ins are not permitted; guests must be picked up at one of three transit-accessible locations. It is operated by Progressive Housing Society and is open through March 31.
What are the shelter's hours?
The shelter is open from 8 pm to 7 am every night, according to the November 3, 2026 report by the Tri-Cities Dispatch. It runs nightly through March 31. Guests are picked up at designated transit stops; they cannot walk in on their own.
How do people get to the shelter?
According to the Tri-Cities Dispatch, pickup is available at three transit-accessible locations: Lincoln SkyTrain, Christmas Way at Pheasant Street, or Kingsway at Jane Street. Walk-ins are not permitted. Guests are taken from one of those stops to the shelter site at Səmiq̓wəʔelə.
What services does the shelter offer?
The shelter provides a hot meal. Progressive Housing Society says it also connects guests with healthcare, mental health resources, and help with housing applications, according to the Tri-Cities Dispatch.
Who operates the shelter?
Progressive Housing Society operates the shelter, according to the November 3, 2026 Tri-Cities Dispatch report. The society runs it at the former Riverview Hospital site in Coquitlam and says the program includes connections to healthcare, mental health resources, and housing support.
How long will the shelter be open?
The shelter is open until March 31, according to the Tri-Cities Dispatch. It runs every night from 8 pm to 7 am through that date, with 20 beds at the former Riverview Hospital site in Coquitlam. Progressive Housing Society operates the program.
How many beds does the shelter have?
The shelter has 20 beds, according to the Tri-Cities Dispatch. It is located at the former Riverview Hospital site in Coquitlam and is operated by Progressive Housing Society. Guests are picked up at transit stops each night from 8 pm to 7 am.
Why did the previous church-run shelter program end?
According to the Tri-Cities Dispatch, the previous program, run by a rotating group of churches, ended the year before because demand had grown beyond what the churches could manage, including challenges related to the toxic drug supply.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Tri-Cities Dispatch: Tri-Cities Overnight Homeless Shelter Now Opentricitiesdispatch.com
- Progressive Housing Societyprogressivehousing.org
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