Homelessness
Homelessness & Emergency Shelter Services
Northern Pines Information
Integrated Shelter and Hub:
Currently, there is no 24/7 integrated low-barrier shelter and hub in the District of Nipissing. The hub would immediately provide a safe space for homeless individuals to connect with services and navigational support. Services will help homeless individuals apply for suitable housing and get connected with mental and physical health services. Over time and through partnerships, additional service providers could provide services at the hub to centralize service access and improve health and housing outcomes. According to the recent Homelessness System Review and Feasibility Study, 24/7 programs are favoured for the following reasons:
- A sense of stability and security is provided for individuals experiencing homelessness and reduces the stress of arranging overnight accommodations and travelling to access meals.
- Integrating services can result in more efficient use of resources, potentially reducing operational costs and improving service delivery.
- Providing consistent integrated services is more challenging across two separate sites.
Unknown at this time. The DNSSAB, Crisis Centre North Bay, and the City of North Bay have been working together to find a permanent location for a 24/7 shelter and hub. While the search continues, a temporary 24/7 shelter and hub will continue at 590 Chippewa Street West, the site of the current shelter and Northern Pines housing, until April 30, 2026.
No. The DNSSAB, Crisis Centre North Bay, and the City of North Bay have been working together to find a permanent location for a 24/7 shelter and hub. While the search continues, a temporary 24/7 shelter and hub will continue at 590 Chippewa Street West, the site of the current shelter and Northern Pines housing, until April 30, 2026.
The Cold Weather Program is a service offered during the winter months to provide daytime shelter and navigational services to individuals experiencing homelessness. The Integrated Homelessness Hub is a year-round service that includes shelter and daytime services. An Integrated Homelessness Hub would provide a wide variety of on-site services to improve housing and health outcomes.
Cold Weather Response Program:
The Cold Weather Housing Response Program for the winter of 2025/26 will be located at the temporary 24/7 shelter and hub at 590 Chippewa Street West, the site of the current shelter and Northern Pines housing, until April 30, 2026.
Northern Pines is a 60-unit transitional and supportive housing campus located in North Bay. The campus was developed in three phases that focused on life skills development. Northern Pines aims to prevent and reduce homelessness and provides relief and support for tenants with addictions and mental health concerns.
No. Northern Pines and the temporary integrated shelter and hub are not safe consumption sites and there are no plans for a safe consumption site at this location.
DNSSAB is committed to exploring transportation options that would reduce foot traffic. Furthermore, the Crisis Center indicated they are looking at options to provide food on site.
Potential locations were identified by DNSSAB staff (and through DNSSAB’s realtor on record), as well as through discussions with staff from the City of North Bay and Crisis Centre North Bay. Each identified site is reviewed for suitability based on the site considerations listed in the recent Homelessness System Review and Feasibility Study.
The Crisis Center North Bay will operate the program and already operate the Low-Barrier Shelter and Northern Pines on the site.
Yes, the Program will be 24/7.
Should you have any feedback about Homelessness or Emergency Shelter Services, please click here
District-Wide Unsheltered Persons Response
If you are aware of individuals living unsheltered who may need support, please reach out to True Self to respond:
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| True Self Peer Outreach Support Team (POST) | |||||||||
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(705) 498-9482* |
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| * For after-hours calls please leave a message indicating the location of the site and the number of people living there. | |||||||||
For individuals looking for shelter, please contact Crisis Centre North Bayㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ
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| Emergency Crisis Line | |||||||||
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Coordinated Access Nipissing (CAN)
If you or someone you know is in need of Emergency Shelter Services, the first step is reaching out to a Coordinated Access Point
Coordinated Access Nipissing (CAN) is a shift in the way that community agencies support people who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless.
Individuals and families can call or visit any of the agencies listed below for more information on referrals, supports, and services to help them find or keep their home. You will be asked to complete a Common Intake and Consent form, and may be asked for further information to support your housing journey. People who are currently homeless can choose to add their name to the Coordinated Access Nipissing (CAN) Priority List. The (CAN) Priority List is a registry of everyone who is homeless in the District of Nipissing, has a profile in the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) and have consented to share their information with Coordinated Access Nipissing (CAN) access points. This list is used to assess individuals and households based on their current situation.
As services, supports, and housing options become available individuals and households on the CAN Priority List will be matched based on their needs and overall eligibility.
1. Access Points
Visit, Call or email a CAN Access Point
- Aids Commitee of North Bay and Area (ACNBA)
- Crisis Centre North Bay (CCNB)
- Low Income People's Involvment of Nipissing (LIPI)
- North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre (NBIFC)
- True Self Debwewendiziwin Program
- Canadian Mental Health Assosciation of North Bay and Disctrict (CMHA)
- District of Nipissing Social Services (DNSSAB)
- Legion Service Bureau
- The Gathering Place
- Brain Injury Association of North Bay Area (BIANBA)
2. Triage
- Complete an Intake
- Make sure Individuals are safe
- Address basic needs (food, water, medical attention)
- Assist with preventing homelessness
3. Assessment
Speak with individuals to learn more about their needs, barriers, wants and goals.
4. Match
Match and refer to appropriate & available supports, services and housing.
5. Follow-Up
Once housed: regular check-ins and support.
Access Points
| ☏ 705-474-1031 Crisis Centre North Bay - Emergency Shelter Hours of Operation: 24/7 |
☏ 705-358-5901 Crisis Centre North Bay - Low Barrier Shelter Hours of Operation: 8:00 PM-8:00 AM Daily |
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☏ 249-493-6180 |
☏ 705-497-3570
AIDS Committee North Bay and Area
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Closed for lunch 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
☏ 705-474-2151 Ext. 45588
Homelessness Prevention Services
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday
8:30 AM-4:30 PM
☏ 705-472-1337
Low Income People Involvement of Nipissing
Hours of Operation:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM-2:00 PM
☏ 705-474-4058
Nipissing First Nations True Self Debwewendizwin Program
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday
8:30 AM-4:30 PM
☏ 705-474-7687
The Gathering Place
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday
8:30 AM-4:30 PM
☏ (705) 478-8664
Brain Injury Association of North Bay and Area
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday
8:30 AM-4:30 PM
☏ 705-474-7859
The Salvation Army
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday
8:30 AM-4:00 PM
Built for Zero
Beginning the end of homelessness in Canada
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions:
If you find yourself without a place to stay tonight, please reach out to a Coordinated Access Nipissing Access Point shown above.
True Self’s Post program provides outreach support those living unsheltered. They connect them with basic needs, supports, including health supports through the Community Paramedicine program. There contact information and hours are posted above.
Homelessness is characterized by the instability of housing and the inadequacy of income, health care supports and social supports. It is important to understand that there are different levels to Homlessness. There are people living unsheltered, living on the streets or in encampments. There are people living in shelter looking to transition for a variety of reasons such as: fire, flood, eviction, etc. There are hidden homeless. Individuals or families staying with friends or family (couch surfing) because they lack permanent housing. Lastly, there are those at risk of homelessness because they are falling behind in rent, bills or struggling to make ends meet.
Regardless of the situation, there are services here at the DNSSAB and through the Coordinated Access Nipissing system where supports and programs are provided to those who need them. Please see the above list of agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Coordinated Access is a system that helps people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless get the support they need more quickly and fairly. Instead of contacting many different agencies, a person can go through one main access point to get connected with housing and services. The system collects and shares information (with consent) between service providers to better understand each person needs and match them with the right housing options and programs.
The CAN Priority List is list of individuals who are on the By-Name List and have completed a CAN Common Assessment with CAN agency in the last 6 months and are therefore eligible for being matched with available resources in which they are eligible for.
Contact one of the CAN Access Points below
Crisis Centre North Bay (705) 474-1031
Nipissing First Nations True Self Debwewendizwin Program (705) 474-4058
Low Income People Involvement of Nipissing (705) 472-1337
AIDs Committee North Bay and Area (705) 497-3560
District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (705) 474-2151 Ext. 4558
North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre (705) 472-2811
Brain Injury Association of North Bay and Area (705) 478-8664
The Gathering Place North Bay (705) 474-7687
Canadian Mental Health Association – North Bay and District (705) 476-4088
The Salvation Army North Bay (705) 474-7859
Legion Services Bureau 705-472-8650