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 205 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 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.

We are currently renovating the 2-storey office building at 3020 Gilmore Diversion. We have adjusted the number of shelter beds from 80 to 60. This change reflects input from the Burnaby City Council and feedback from community engagement.

We acknowledge that there is an urgent need for more shelter beds in Burnaby, however this change will also provide more space for support services and accessibility features.

Shelter operations

BC Housing has selected Lookout Housing and Health Society through a fair and open process to manage the shelter and provide support to guests. Learn more about Lookout by visiting lookoutsociety.ca.

Lookout will have at least 4 experienced staff members on site 24/7. Staff will include outreach workers, peer support specialists and case managers who work closely with guests to understand their needs and connect them to community services and housing.

Support services will include:

  • Meals
  • Storage
  • Laundry
  • Washroom and shower facilities
  • Connections to community-based services and permanent housing

The shelter will operate with a trauma-informed and harm reduction approach. It will recognize the dignity and resilience of each shelter guest. Staff will work to build trust and foster a sense of community within the shelter. They will also maintain strong relationships with neighbours and local service providers.

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 support the well-being of people transitioning out of homelessness.

We appreciate the interest and care that community members have shown in this project during our online information session in May 2025. We also recognize that many neighbours are eager to meet with us in person.

We are planning to host an in-person Community Information Session once renovations are complete and before the shelter opens to guests. This will be an opportunity to tour the renovated space, meet shelter staff, and learn more about shelter operations. We will share details including the date, time and format of this event in spring 2026.

In the meantime, Lookout will be visiting nearby homes and businesses in the coming weeks to introduce themselves. This is part of Lookout’s commitment to building respectful, responsive relationships with the community.

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 a video recording of the May 15 presentation:

We thank all participants for their time and thoughtful discussion. View the presentation slides or the summary report under the Documents section of the sidebar.

Questions

We welcome questions about the shelter development any time by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org.

For questions about the shelter program and operations, please email burnabyshelter@lookoutsociety.ca.


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 205 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 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.

We are currently renovating the 2-storey office building at 3020 Gilmore Diversion. We have adjusted the number of shelter beds from 80 to 60. This change reflects input from the Burnaby City Council and feedback from community engagement.

We acknowledge that there is an urgent need for more shelter beds in Burnaby, however this change will also provide more space for support services and accessibility features.

Shelter operations

BC Housing has selected Lookout Housing and Health Society through a fair and open process to manage the shelter and provide support to guests. Learn more about Lookout by visiting lookoutsociety.ca.

Lookout will have at least 4 experienced staff members on site 24/7. Staff will include outreach workers, peer support specialists and case managers who work closely with guests to understand their needs and connect them to community services and housing.

Support services will include:

  • Meals
  • Storage
  • Laundry
  • Washroom and shower facilities
  • Connections to community-based services and permanent housing

The shelter will operate with a trauma-informed and harm reduction approach. It will recognize the dignity and resilience of each shelter guest. Staff will work to build trust and foster a sense of community within the shelter. They will also maintain strong relationships with neighbours and local service providers.

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 support the well-being of people transitioning out of homelessness.

We appreciate the interest and care that community members have shown in this project during our online information session in May 2025. We also recognize that many neighbours are eager to meet with us in person.

We are planning to host an in-person Community Information Session once renovations are complete and before the shelter opens to guests. This will be an opportunity to tour the renovated space, meet shelter staff, and learn more about shelter operations. We will share details including the date, time and format of this event in spring 2026.

In the meantime, Lookout will be visiting nearby homes and businesses in the coming weeks to introduce themselves. This is part of Lookout’s commitment to building respectful, responsive relationships with the community.

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 a video recording of the May 15 presentation:

We thank all participants for their time and thoughtful discussion. View the presentation slides or the summary report under the Documents section of the sidebar.

Questions

We welcome questions about the shelter development any time by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org.

For questions about the shelter program and operations, please email burnabyshelter@lookoutsociety.ca.