RainCity Timeline

An outdoor gazebo on the roof-top deck of our Sechelt shelter became the location of the Sunshine Coast’s first public safe consumption site. It began operating on July 23, 2020. Read the story here.

On Nov 22 we broke ground for our first building in Surrey, BC at Green Timbers.

On October 28 we hosted the first ever Peer Con, a big, bold, bright celebration of RainCity Housing’s Peer Workers and the transformative power of organizations led by People Who Use Drugs in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Hightide Modular Housing, our third modular building and our first in Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast of BC. April 30, 2019.

Alderbridge Modular Housing is our first modular building to open. It’s located in Richmond, BC. April 15, 2019.

RainCity begins operating the Winter Response Shelter in Gibsons in December 2018.

Our Streetview campaign launches.

Sunshine Coast Shelter gets a new home with 24 hour staff and an additional 5 spaces.

Housing First Outreach Worker begins work at 3030 Gordon to support people to find housing throughout the community.

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.

Sunshine Coast Temprorary Shelter opens at St. Hilda’s Church in Sechelt the winter of 2016.

Peer Services Department is established to support peer work throughout the organization and in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.

3030 Gordon opens in Coquitlam on Dec 15, 2015, with 30 shelter units, 30 transitional housing unis, and dorms for 30 people during extreme weather.

The Budzey opens with 105 units of housing for women (trans* and cis), and 41 units for women led families.

Housing First LGBTQ2s* Youth Housing is established, supporting youth (ages 18-24) to find, get and keep housing and connect with a team member weekly. Here is David in his new apartment.

Our Bench campaign gets world-wide attention, an awareness raising campaign we did with Spring Advertising.

The Biltmore opens in February of 2014 . This housing program provides housing and support to 95 folks waiting to get into long term housing.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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).

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.

The Strengths Model is adopted, which recognizes that if we focus on individual’s strengths, talents, knowledge, skills and experience, then people can more likely achieve their goals.

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.

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.

WindChimes Apartments at Heatley and Powell (Vancouver) opens in 1993 to provide permanent housing for people living with mental health challenges who have a history of experiencing homelessness.

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.