Winter shelter

On October 1, 2025, Council approved a temporary use permit to allow winter shelter services until the new purpose-built shelter at 925 Braidwood Road opens in 2027.

Shelter location and partners

The shelter will be located at 971 Cumberland Road, a City-owned property near Operational Services.

The facility is supported by community partners, including:

• Comox Valley Regional District
• City of Courtenay
• Town of Comox
• Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness

Community engagement

Before the temporary use permit was approved by Council, a community information meeting was held on September 9, 2025. Local residents were notified by mail.

Public feedback on the information shared at the meeting was collected in person and online, and that process is now closed.

Learn more

More information about the shelter and the application process is available in the following information package.

Temporary winter shelter information package [PDF/366KB]

Information package includes:

• Overview of what a Temporary Use Permit is and how the process works.
• Details on the use of 971 Cumberland Road for a winter shelter program.
• Background on why this location was selected.
• Information about the Lookout Housing and Health Society, the shelter’s operator.
• Summary of different types of shelter programs and services offered.

Background and reports

• October 1, 2025, Staff Report
• October 1, 2025, Council meeting recording
• Courtenay Housing Needs Report [PDF/738KB]

External resources

• Island Health | Cold Weather Safety
• Island Health | Health Impacts of the Winter Season: Information for Community Health Partners and Local Governments
• CVRD | Comox Valley Regional Housing Needs Assessment
• BC Housing | Point-in-Time Homeless Counts