Thank you to the Cowichan Community Action Team for helping keep this site up.
Duncan Survival Hub — food, shelter, safety and support
Cowichan Survival Checklist Book Free PDF
Cowichan Community Action Team

Street Survival

Meals · Shelter · Care

Resources for people surviving on Duncan streets: meals, shelters, harm reduction, counselling, washrooms, showers, laundry, health, youth, pets and legal supports.

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You deserve food, safety, and care. Use these. Share them. You are not alone.

📄 Official Guides & PDFs

Official Cowichan Street Survival Guide 2025

An official local survival resource compiled by the Cowichan Community Action Team and community partners. It includes meals, shelters, harm reduction, OPS, counselling, needle disposal boxes, pregnancy support, 2SLGBTQIA+ support, transportation, washrooms, foot care, employment, laundry, haircuts, phone and internet access, showers, health and dental care, pet care, legal support, ID replacement, disability assistance, bylaw information, complaints, and rights.

View Official Guides & PDFs →

🍽️ Meals

Cowichan Valley Basket Society

📍 5810 Garden St, Duncan

📞 250-746-1566

✉️ office@cvbs.ca

🕐 Mon–Sat 10am–4pm · Lunch 11am–3:30pm

Bread, fruit & veg daily. Coffee/pastries 10–11am. Hampers Mon–Fri 10am–1:30pm (register from 9am or phone). One hamper / 30 days.

📞 Call✉️ Email📍 Map

Meals on the Ground

📍 Duncan United Church (back door), 246 Ingram St

✉️ info@cgcf.ca

🕐 Mon, Wed, Fri 5pm — open on holidays

✉️ Email📍 Map

Duncan United Church

📍 246 Ingram St

📞 250-746-6043

🕐 Dinner 3rd Sunday monthly, doors 5pm

📞 Call📍 Map

Duncan Christian Reform Church

📍 930 Trunk Rd

📞 250-748-2122

🕐 Dinner last Saturday monthly, doors 5pm

📞 Call📍 Map

Sunday Sandwiches

📍 5810 Garden St (CVBS backyard)

🕐 Every Sunday & stat holidays 12–1pm

📍 Map

House of Friendship Breakfast (First Nations)

📍 5462 Trans-Canada Hwy

📞 250-748-2242

✉️ ajack@hofduncan.org

🕐 Mon–Fri 6–9am

📞 Call✉️ Email📍 Map

Warmland Shelter Meals

📍 2579 Lewis St

📞 250-715-1132

🕐 Breakfast & dinner for shelter clients, 7 days

📞 Call📍 Map

Burger Sundays

📍 Warmland Shelter

🕐 Free burgers & juice, 2nd Sunday monthly (St. Edward's volunteers)

📍 Map

🛏️ Shelters

Warmland House Shelter

📍 2579 Lewis St

📞 250-715-1132

✉️ cmhacvb@cmha.bc.ca

Two-point sign-up: morning before leaving + 5pm. First come, first served. Miss the list → guaranteed bed next night.

📞 Call✉️ Email📍 Map
Cedar Branches Women's Shelter (19+)

📍 222 Cowichan Way

📞 250-466-9492

✉️ support@cwav.org

Capacity 8. Clients can stay 24/7. Call for availability/waitlist.

📞 Call✉️ Email📍 Map
Temporary Warming / Cooling Shelters

Activated as needed — info shared at OPS, shelters, and foodbank.

Temporary Overnight Shelter Rules & Safety

Community-made planning image. Not an official legal map. This card does not give permission to camp anywhere. Always follow current municipal bylaws, posted signs, park closures, fire bans, environmental protections, and bylaw officer direction.

Possible areas shown in the community image to verify before use:

  • Quamichan Lake / forest-side areas
  • Mount Tzouhalem Park area
  • Stocking Lake area
  • McInstrey Nature Park area
  • McAdam / Rotary area

These are not guaranteed legal shelter locations. They are areas from a community-made planning image that must be checked against current local rules before use.

Before setting up anywhere:

  • Check posted signs
  • Stay away from sensitive natural areas
  • Do not block trails, roads, fields, playgrounds, buildings, or emergency access
  • Keep the area clean
  • Leave no garbage behind
  • Respect bylaw officers, park staff, nearby residents, and other park users
  • Leave early and peacefully if asked to move

Use this as a caution and planning reminder, not as permission or legal advice.

💊 Harm Reduction

Cowichan Valley Wellness & Recovery Centre

📍 5878 York Rd

📞 OPS: 250-597-7779

🕐 OPS 7 days 8am–8pm

Counselling · Outreach · Primary Care · Opiate Agonist Therapy

📞 Call📍 Map
Margaret Moss Health Unit

📍 675 Canada Ave

📞 250-709-3050

🕐 Mon–Fri 8:30am–12pm, 1–4:30pm

📞 Call📍 Map
Public Health Outreach (Island Health)

📞 250-510-5480

🕐 7 days, varying hours

📞 Call
Ts'ewulhtun Health Centre (Cowichan Tribes)

📍 5768 Allenby Rd

📞 250-746-6184

🕐 Mon–Fri 8:30–12pm, 1–4:30pm

Nasal naloxone provided. Harm Reduction Team & Kwun'atsustal Counselling.

📞 Call📍 Map
NARSF Mobile Health Outreach

📞 1-844-482-4239 / text 250-510-3637

🕐 Tuesdays 1–8pm

📞 Call
Warmland House Shelter

📍 2579 Lewis St

📞 250-715-1132

✉️ cmhacvb@cmha.bc.ca

🕐 All hours except 1–7pm when OPS is open

📞 Call✉️ Email📍 Map
B.C. Drug Toxicity Update 2026

BC Coroners Service update posted May 13, 2026. Data is preliminary and subject to change as investigations and toxicology results are completed.

Key figures:

  • 400 suspected unregulated drug-toxicity deaths reported in B.C. during January to March 2026
  • January: 150
  • February: 115
  • March: 135
  • March averaged approximately 4.4 deaths per day
  • B.C. reported 1,826 deaths in 2025

Safety reminder: If someone may be experiencing an overdose, call 911 immediately. Carry naloxone if available and follow current harm-reduction guidance.

Source: BC Coroners Service. Statistics may be updated as investigations are completed.

📞 Crisis & Support Lines

Vancouver Island Crisis Line

1-888-494-3888

BC Suicide Line

1-800-784-2433

Kids Help

1-833-456-4566

988 Suicide Hotline

988 (call or text, 24/7)

Mental Health & Substance Use Service Link

1-888-885-8824

Toxic Drug Alerts

Text "join" to 253787

In an emergency, call 911. For toxic drug alerts text "join" to 253787.

🏥 Health & Dental

Cowichan District Hospital

📍 3045 Gibbins Rd

📞 250-737-2030

🕐 24/7

📞 Call📍 Map

Beverly Medical Clinic

📍 2763 Beverly St

📞 250-597-3390

🕐 Mon–Fri 9–6, Sat–Sun 10–1

📞 Call📍 Map

Cowichan Maternity Clinic

📍 3045 Gibbins Rd (Hospital)

📞 250-737-2066

📞 Call📍 Map

FNHA Virtual Doctor of the Day (First Nations)

📞 1-855-344-3800

🕐 MOA support 7 days 8:30am–4:30pm

📞 Call

🚿 Everyday Needs — Laundry, Showers, Phone, Haircuts

Free Phone — Duncan United Church

📍 246 Ingram St

📍 Map
Free Laundry — House of Friendship (First Nations)

📍 5462 Trans-Canada Hwy

📞 250-748-2242

✉️ ajack@hofduncan.org

📞 Call✉️ Email📍 Map
Free Laundry — Warmland Shelter

📍 2579 Lewis St

📞 250-715-1132

📞 Call📍 Map
Haircuts — VI Hairdressing Program

📍 5265 Boal Rd

📞 250-748-4529

By appointment

📞 Call📍 Map
Showers — Sobering & Assessment Centre

📍 Warmland Shelter, 2579 Lewis St

For facility clients

📍 Map
Washroom — Charles Hoey Park (Train Station)

📍 124 Canada Ave

🕐 May–Sep 8am–8pm · Oct–Apr 8am–5pm

📍 Map

🎒 Youth Services

Cowichan Valley Youth Services (13–18)

📍 294 Coronation Ave

📞 250-748-0232

✉️ office@cvyouth.ca

🕐 Mon–Fri 9am–3pm by appointment

📞 Call✉️ Email📍 Map
Discovery Youth & Family Substance Use (12–19)

📍 371 Festubert St

📞 250-737-2029

🕐 Mobile outreach daily 3:30–11:30pm

📞 Call📍 Map

🐾 Pet Care

Cowichan Valley Cat Rescue

📞 250-743-6500

✉️ cowcatrescue@shaw.ca

Low-income spay/neuter when funded. Leave a message.

📞 Call✉️ Email
SPCA Cowichan & District Branch

📍 7550 Bell McKinnon Rd

📞 250-746-4646

📞 Call📍 Map
"Take what you need. Leave what you can. Tell a friend."