Homelessness Resources in Brantford, Ontario: Where to Find Shelter, Food and Help This Winter

If you are experiencing homelessness or worried about where you will sleep tonight, help is available in Brantford. You may be able to get emergency shelter, a warm place to stay during extreme cold, food, clothing, showers and help finding housing.

Winter in Ontario can be dangerous, especially when you do not have a safe, warm place to go. You do not have to figure everything out on your own. This guide lists local services that can help you take the next step.

Keep this page saved on your phone if you can, or share it with someone who may need it.

1. Need Somewhere to Sleep Tonight?

SOAR Community Services – Emergency Shelter Intake

Start here if you need emergency shelter in Brantford or Brant County.

SOAR Community Services helps individuals and families find emergency housing options. Staff can help you understand your options and connect you with available services.

• Phone: 1-888-621-0034 (toll-free)
• Local phone: 519-759-1290
• In-person location: 73 Murray Street, Brantford
• In-person support: The City lists the waiting room as open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Website: SOAR Community Services – Emergency Shelter Intake

Help is available by phone 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

You may also be able to access showers, laundry, food, hygiene supplies and help arranging transportation.

Call before travelling to a shelter if possible. Shelter spaces can be limited, and the intake team can help you find out what options are available.

2. Where Can You Go to Get Warm?

If you do not have a warm place to stay, there are options in Brantford, particularly during extreme cold weather.

Brantford Blessing Centre – Winter Warming Location

The Brantford Blessing Centre will operate a warming location during the 2026–2027 winter season.

• Address: 7 Burnley Avenue, Brantford
• Dates: November 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027
• Hours: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

People can come in to get out of severe weather, access food and refreshments, and receive help connecting with community services.

Check the City's website for updates before travelling.

Other Places to Warm Up During Extreme Cold Alerts

The City of Brantford identifies the following locations as places where people can seek temporary indoor respite during extreme cold notifications:

• Brantford Public Library – Downtown: 173 Colborne Street
• Brantford Public Library – St. Paul Avenue: 441 St. Paul Avenue
• Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre: 254 North Park Street

Regular operating hours apply to these public facilities. They are places to warm up, not overnight shelters.

The City also identifies temporary indoor spaces during extreme weather alerts at Rosewood House, 42 Nelson Street, and the Salvation Army Brantford Booth Centre, 187 Dalhousie Street. Access and eligibility differ by location, so contact emergency shelter intake for guidance.

Find current information: City of Brantford – Extreme Cold and Warming Locations

If you are outside and becoming confused, extremely tired, numb or unusually drowsy, you may be developing a cold-related illness. Call 911 if you believe someone is in immediate danger from the cold.

3. Where Can You Get Free Food or a Meal?

If you are hungry or running out of food, these local organizations may be able to help.

Friendship House

Friendship House provides community support, including food and clothing assistance.

• Address: 452 Grey Street, Brantford
• Phone: 519-753-8511

Contact Friendship House to ask about current food and clothing services and when you can visit.

Brantford Food Bank

The Brantford Food Bank provides emergency food assistance.

• Address: 1100 Clarence Street South, Brantford
• Phone: 519-751-4357

Appointments are generally required, so call before visiting.

Salvation Army Family Services

The Salvation Army provides food assistance to eligible individuals and families.

• Brantford location: 33 Diana Avenue
• Phone: 519-752-7814

Call to ask about appointments and current food bank requirements.

Community Meals and Other Food Programs

Several local organizations offer community meals or other food assistance. The days, times and eligibility requirements can vary.

For the most up-to-date list of free community meals, visit the City's Food Bank and Community Meal Calendar.

If you cannot access the internet, you can call 211 Ontario for help finding food programs near you.

4. Need Help Finding Permanent Housing?

If you are staying outside, sleeping in a vehicle, moving between friends' homes, or worried about losing your current housing, you can ask for help finding a more stable place to live.

SOAR Community Services Housing Resource Centre

The Housing Resource Centre helps people who are experiencing homelessness and people who are at risk of losing their housing.

Staff may be able to help you:

• Explore housing options.
• Find affordable housing listings.
• Apply for community housing.
• Understand your housing application and next steps.
• Get help with certain housing-related financial problems.
• Find support if you are facing eviction.
• Apply for help obtaining identification, such as a birth certificate or health card.

Phone: 1-888-621-0034
In person: 73 Murray Street, Brantford

Website: SOAR Community Services

You do not need to wait until you have nowhere to sleep before asking for help.

Help With Rent and Housing Costs

The City of Brantford's Housing Stability Fund may be able to help eligible residents of Brantford and Brant County with certain costs, including rent arrears, last month's rent, and utility arrears or deposits.

Funding depends on your circumstances and available program requirements.

Contact the Housing Resource Centre to ask whether you qualify.

For information about affordable and community housing applications, visit City of Brantford – Find Affordable Housing.

Important: Community housing can have a waiting list. If you need somewhere to sleep tonight, contact emergency shelter intake first.

5. Need Help With Clothing, Showers or Other Basic Needs?

You may need more than a place to sleep. If you need clean clothes, hygiene supplies, laundry or a shower, you can ask SOAR Community Services about available supports at its Murray Street location.

• Address: 73 Murray Street, Brantford
• Phone: 1-888-621-0034

Friendship House may also be able to assist with clothing and other community supports.

Availability can change, so call or visit the relevant service to find out what is currently offered.

6. If You Are a Woman Experiencing Homelessness or Unsafe Housing

Nova Vita

If you are experiencing homelessness because of abuse, violence or an unsafe living situation, Nova Vita provides crisis support, emergency shelter and referrals for women and their children.

• Crisis line: 519-752-HELP (4357)
• Address: 59 North Park Street, Brantford
• Website: Nova Vita

Nova Vita's crisis line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

You can also use its online chat and text support to ask questions and find information. The online service does not arrange admission to its emergency shelter, so call the crisis line if you need shelter.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

7. Need Help but Don't Know Where to Start?

You do not need to know which organization is right for you before asking for help.

Call 211 Ontario.

211 can help you find local community and social services, including food programs, housing assistance and other basic needs.

• Phone: 2-1-1
• Text: 2-1-1
• Website: 211 Ontario

Explain what you need and where you are staying. They can help you look for appropriate services in your area.

If you need emergency shelter in Brantford or Brant County, call SOAR Community Services at 1-888-621-0034.

8. Staying Safe Outdoors in Winter

If you do not have a safe indoor place to stay, try to reduce your exposure to the cold while you seek help.

• Wear several layers of clothing whenever possible.
• Keep your hands, feet, head and ears covered.
• Change out of wet clothing if you can.
• Seek an indoor place to warm up during extreme cold.
• Watch for numbness, confusion, unusual tiredness or slurred speech.
• Call 911 if you or someone else may be suffering from severe cold exposure.

Extreme cold can cause serious illness even when you do not realize how cold you have become.

Never use a barbecue, charcoal burner or fuel-burning camping stove inside a tent, vehicle or enclosed space to keep warm. These can produce deadly carbon monoxide.

You Deserve Help and Support

If you are experiencing homelessness in Brantford, please know that there are people and organizations working to help.

You do not need to solve everything today. Your first step might be finding somewhere safe to sleep, getting a meal, taking a shower, or speaking to someone who can help you understand your options.

Start with the resource that meets your most immediate need.

Quick contacts to keep handy:

• Emergency shelter intake: 1-888-621-0034
• Community services information: 211
• Emergency help: 911
• Nova Vita crisis line: 519-752-4357

If you know someone who may need this information, please share this guide with them. A phone number or address at the right time can make a real difference.

Information in this guide is intended to help people connect with local services. Programs, hours, eligibility and availability can change. Please contact the service directly or check its official website for the latest information.