Burnaby - Gilmore Diversion

Aerial view of BC Housing site at Gilmore Diversion and Manor Street in Burnaby, marked with a green location pin and labels.


BC Housing recently purchased the two-storey office building at 3020 Gilmore Diversion. We are planning to create a new permanent shelter at this site.

The need

The latest Point-in-Time Homeless Count identified 209 people experiencing homelessness in Burnaby.

HOME: Burnaby’s housing and homelessness strategy and the final report of the Mayor’s Task Force on Unsheltered Community Members also highlighted the need for more shelter spaces in Burnaby.

Shelters provide an important step in a person’s transition out of homelessness and into stable housing. Opening more shelters also means there will be fewer people sheltering outdoors in Burnaby. This will improve cleanliness and safety in the community overall.

The new shelter

The new shelter at 3020 Gilmore Diversion will host up to 80 semi-private sleeping pods across two floors. There will also be staff offices, indoor amenity space and programming space.

The City of Burnaby does not require rezoning for this use. We are renovating the building and expect to open the shelter in spring 2026.

The new shelter will be open 24/7, year-round. It will provide safe, secure spaces and supports for shelter guests and help connect them to permanent housing and community-based services.

BC Housing will select a non-profit operator through a fair and open process to operate the new shelter. Support services and programming at the shelter will depend on the operator but typically include:

  • Daily meals
  • Storage for belongings
  • Washroom, shower and laundry facilities
  • Case planning and referrals to community services
  • Support finding housing

Safety and security features for the benefit of shelter guests as well as the surrounding community will include:

  • Staffing: Staff will be onsite 24/7 to operate the shelter and support the guests. We will share a direct phone number for the shelter when it is available, and staff will be available to respond directly to any concerns that arise in a timely manner.
  • Design features: The new shelter will incorporate Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design practices, such as fenced grounds, access control, security cameras and lighting.
  • Perimeter checks: Staff will conduct regular sweeps of the property and immediate area to ensure cleanliness.

Connect with us

A caring community can contribute greatly to the success of shelter guests on their journey into stable housing. BC Housing will keep lines of communication open throughout this project.

The City of Burnaby does not require rezoning for this use and there will be no public hearing relating to land use for this project. Even so, BC Housing is committed to being a good neighbour, keeping the community updated about this project and answering questions.

Online Information Sessions

On May 7 and 15, 2025, we hosted online information sessions to share information and answer questions about this shelter project. We thank all participants for their time and participation. View the presentation slides or a video recording of the May 15 presentation:


We will prepare a summary report of our neighbourhood communications and information sessions. We will publish this report on this page and share it with the City of Burnaby.

Meet the Operator

We plan to reach out to the community again in fall 2025 to introduce the shelter operator and share more details about the shelter operations.

In the meantime, we welcome questions and comments by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org.


BC Housing recently purchased the two-storey office building at 3020 Gilmore Diversion. We are planning to create a new permanent shelter at this site.

The need

The latest Point-in-Time Homeless Count identified 209 people experiencing homelessness in Burnaby.

HOME: Burnaby’s housing and homelessness strategy and the final report of the Mayor’s Task Force on Unsheltered Community Members also highlighted the need for more shelter spaces in Burnaby.

Shelters provide an important step in a person’s transition out of homelessness and into stable housing. Opening more shelters also means there will be fewer people sheltering outdoors in Burnaby. This will improve cleanliness and safety in the community overall.

The new shelter

The new shelter at 3020 Gilmore Diversion will host up to 80 semi-private sleeping pods across two floors. There will also be staff offices, indoor amenity space and programming space.

The City of Burnaby does not require rezoning for this use. We are renovating the building and expect to open the shelter in spring 2026.

The new shelter will be open 24/7, year-round. It will provide safe, secure spaces and supports for shelter guests and help connect them to permanent housing and community-based services.

BC Housing will select a non-profit operator through a fair and open process to operate the new shelter. Support services and programming at the shelter will depend on the operator but typically include:

  • Daily meals
  • Storage for belongings
  • Washroom, shower and laundry facilities
  • Case planning and referrals to community services
  • Support finding housing

Safety and security features for the benefit of shelter guests as well as the surrounding community will include:

  • Staffing: Staff will be onsite 24/7 to operate the shelter and support the guests. We will share a direct phone number for the shelter when it is available, and staff will be available to respond directly to any concerns that arise in a timely manner.
  • Design features: The new shelter will incorporate Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design practices, such as fenced grounds, access control, security cameras and lighting.
  • Perimeter checks: Staff will conduct regular sweeps of the property and immediate area to ensure cleanliness.

Connect with us

A caring community can contribute greatly to the success of shelter guests on their journey into stable housing. BC Housing will keep lines of communication open throughout this project.

The City of Burnaby does not require rezoning for this use and there will be no public hearing relating to land use for this project. Even so, BC Housing is committed to being a good neighbour, keeping the community updated about this project and answering questions.

Online Information Sessions

On May 7 and 15, 2025, we hosted online information sessions to share information and answer questions about this shelter project. We thank all participants for their time and participation. View the presentation slides or a video recording of the May 15 presentation:


We will prepare a summary report of our neighbourhood communications and information sessions. We will publish this report on this page and share it with the City of Burnaby.

Meet the Operator

We plan to reach out to the community again in fall 2025 to introduce the shelter operator and share more details about the shelter operations.

In the meantime, we welcome questions and comments by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org.

Page last updated: 26 May 2025, 11:20 AM