A review of the shelter in the late 1980’s determined a purpose-built shelter was required to better support people experiencing homelessness in Vancouver’s Downtown. A location was confirmed on Powell Street in the Downtown Eastside. At that time, St James Community Services Society had concerns about potential neighbour opposition to the proposed site so a separate non-profit was created to address any ‘not in my backyard’ controversy. Triage Emergency Services and Care Society was incorporated in 1990.

In 1993 the purpose built Triage Shelter opens at 707 Powell Street (Vancouver) with 28 individual shelter rooms for people.

Harm Reduction philosophy is adopted in the spring of 2000, including a series of strategies to support people to use substances more safely, manage their use, and explore next steps.

Princess Rooms was purchased through a Federal grant in the spring of 2001. We established a transitional housing program focused on providing a safe, supported housing environment for individuals with long histories of homelessness.

Private sector funding was received, making it possible to provide 24/7 support at Princess Rooms. This seed money enabled us to establish a pilot program for supported low-barrier housing.

The Vivian opens in November of 2004 thanks to a private donation, providing the first minimal barrier housing program in Vancouver specifically designed for women (trans and cis inclusive) who face systemic and individual barriers to adequate housing and health, personal and financial security.

Homelessness Outreach Team begins working with people living on the streets to help them access community and government programs and assist them in securing stable housing (program ended in 2014).

On Feb 1, 2008, Triage changes its name to RainCity Housing and Support Society to reflect the growth of our programs and services.

The first season operating two Winter Response Shelters in order to address the extreme weather conditions. We worked to create a strong community within two separate, large open spaces each providing shelter to approximately 40 people.

The Lux opens, providing 92 self-contained units with two separate housing programs: The Lux Transitional Housing Program and the Lux Apartments.

The Dunsmuir Community Program opened for a temporary period to provide housing and supports for a vibrant young adult population (program ended in 2013).

Marguerite Ford Apartments opens in the spring of 2013 welcoming 147 tenants to new housing near Olympic Village. This is a partnership with Sanford Housing Society.

In the Fall of 2013 we launched the STOP Outreach Team that works with folks who have health issues and are homeless, under housed, or street involved in order to secure and maintain more permanent housing.

Open Your Heart Website is launched, with NEWS videos.

Housing First Principles: our Videos and Workbook we officially launch our ‘Housing First: Principles to Practice’ toolkit, complete with animated videos, a Facilitator’s Guide and a Workbook.

Surrey Housing First Intensive Case Management Team starts with 35 rent supplements to help ensure people can have some choice about where they want to live.

Maple Ridge temporary shelter opens to provide shelter to 40 people from the community (program ended 2017).

Sunshine Coast Outreach Services is established, working with about 50 individuals to assist them in securing housing.

Peer Witnessing Pilot developed and implemented in 3 of our shelters in response to the public health crisis.

Maple Ridge Housing First Clinical Intensive Case Management Team begins work in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

Indigenous Cultural Services Department is established with a Cultural Safety Working Group (CSWG) supporting Indigenous Cultural Liaison workers and strengthening Indigenous cultural practices and supports throughout the organization.

Peer Witnessing work expanded to include 9 programs.

RainCity partners with St Paul’s Hospital and VCH to open the first Overdose Prevention Site outside Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside in May, 2018.

The Jubilee Rooms is reopened in August 2018, now run by RainCity.

The new website is launched on the first day of Spring! March 20, 2019.

Yale Modular Housing, our second modular building to open and our first in Chilliwack, BC. April 28, 2019.

On June 26 we launched our Myths of Homelessness series of short videos to help dispel the myths many people think are fact about homelessness.

Trethewey Modular Housing is our fourth modular building to open and our second in Chilliwack, BC. Nov 15, 2019.

🚻 It’s important infrastructure that’s often overlooked during a pandemic – clean and safe toilets and sinks. Now the City of Vancouver, and other partners have a solution. @NEWS1130 @BT_Vancouver @raincityhsg @CityofVancouverhttps://t.co/GLbpFxAKM6 pic.twitter.com/l3AOWW19M4

— CityNews Vancouver (@CityNewsVAN) May 29, 2020

A partnership with the City of Vancouver, the Kingsway Community Station opened at the end of May, 2020, has four washrooms and office space for women (trans, cis, gender diverse and two-spirit folks included) that are involved in sex work and are working in and around the Kingsway area. It’s staffed by Peer Workers who have an understanding of sex work either through lived experience or close allyship with the sex work community. NOTE: the site moved to Fraser in Kingsway later that year.

We moved into Yaletown from St Paul’s Hospital to have more space and provide services to more people. The new location has been named the Thomus Donaghy Overdose Prevention Site. Thomus, a Peer Worker, died in July 2020. The artwork in the mural featuring Thomus was done by Vancouver Graffiti Artist Smokey D.

In April of 2022 people began moving into Foxglove, our first building located in Surrey. Foxglove has a 31 room shelter, 100 units off supported housing, and 34 of the people in the housing units have access to enhanced health supports. The photo is from the official opening event with all three levels of government in attendance.