---
title: "Help in Prince George: food bank, shelters and crisis lines"
description: "Where to get help in Prince George: crisis and mental health lines, the food bank, shelters and warming centres, 211 and Indigenous services."
url: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/community-support/
markdown: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/community-support.md
site: PG Pulse (https://princegeorgepulse.ca), The pulse of Prince George, British Columbia
generated: 2026-10-16T15:50:00.747Z
---

# Community support: food, shelter and crisis help

Where to get help in Prince George: crisis and mental health lines, the food bank, shelters and warming centres, 211 and Indigenous services.

Updated September 30, 2026

![The entrance and sign of a community food bank with a Salvation Army van parked out front (a food bank in Ontario, shown as a generic example)](https://princegeorgepulse-media.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/prince-george/guides/entrance-sign-community-food-bank-salvation-army-van-f89d99-1280.webp)

Photo: Raysonho, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons

## At a glance

- In danger right now? Call 9-1-1. Thinking about suicide? Call or text 9-8-8.
- The Northern BC 24-hour crisis line is 250-563-1214 or 1-888-562-1214.
- Call or text 2-1-1, or search bc.211.ca, to find free and low-cost community services.
- The Salvation Army food bank is at 3500 18th Avenue (250-564-4000 ext. 1).
- BC Housing lists emergency shelters; warming centres open during extreme cold.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available in Prince George, much of it free and confidential. This page lists verified contacts. Services and hours change, so call ahead where you can.

## In a crisis

**If someone is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.**

| Line | Number | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Suicide Crisis Helpline | **9-8-8** (call or text) | 24/7 |
| Northern BC Crisis Line | **250-563-1214** · **1-888-562-1214** | 24/7 |
| BC Mental Health Support Line | **310-6789** (no area code) | 24/7 |
| 1-800-SUICIDE | **1-800-784-2433** | 24/7 |
| Northern BC Youth Support Line | **1-888-564-8336** (call) · 250-564-8336 (text, 4–10 p.m.) | Calls 24/7 |
| HealthLink BC nurse line | **8-1-1** | 24/7 |

The Northern BC lines are run by the **Crisis Prevention, Intervention and Information Centre for Northern BC**, a Prince George non-profit that serves the north from the Alberta border to Haida Gwaii. It also offers an online youth chat.

For urgent mental health or substance use concerns that aren’t emergencies, the **Urgent and Primary Care Centre** (250-645-6900) can connect you with clinicians. See [health care](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/health-care/).

## Finding services: 2-1-1

**bc211** is a free, confidential directory of community, social and government services. Call or text **2-1-1**, or search **bc.211.ca**. It’s the fastest way to find current food programs, shelters, counselling, legal help, and income or housing support near you.

![Carved statue of social worker and author Bridget Moran seated on a bench in Prince George](https://princegeorgepulse-media.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/prince-george/photos/bridget-moran-d0737c-762.webp)

The statue of Bridget Moran, the Prince George social worker and writer, carved by Nathan Scott in 2004. [Photo: MVict, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bridget_Moran_Sculpture.jpg)

## Food

### Salvation Army food bank

**Curt Garland Community Support Centre, 3500 18th Avenue** · **250-564-4000 ext. 1** · [PrinceGeorge.FoodBank@salvationarmy.ca](mailto:PrinceGeorge.FoodBank@salvationarmy.ca)

1. **Get a food bank card.** Drop in Monday, Wednesday or Friday, 9:30 to 11 a.m.
2. **Bring** ID for every household member and proof of address for each adult 19+. If documents are a barrier, call. Staff will work with you.
3. **Pick up** food once a week. Current pickup times are:
   - Seniors 65+ and people with mobility disabilities: weekdays, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.
   - Families with children: Tuesday or Thursday, 1 to 3 p.m.
   - All cardholders: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1 to 3 p.m.

Please don’t line up early. The Salvation Army also supplies food to shelters, school programs and the St. Vincent de Paul drop-in.

### Other food help

Community meals, school food programs and hampers are run by churches, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and other groups. Call **2-1-1** for current options. In December, the **Food for Fare** transit event lets riders donate food instead of paying a fare. See [transit](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/transit/).

## Shelter and extreme weather

- **Shelter beds:** BC Housing lists long-term, temporary and drop-in shelters (the City links to its shelter map from the extreme weather page). The **Prince George Native Friendship Centre** also operates shelter programs (see pgnfc.com).
- **Extreme cold:** the City has listed the **AWAC/St. Vincent de Paul Overnight Warming Centre** (1220 2nd Avenue, 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., 250-617-4794) and the **public library branches** during open hours as warming spaces.
- **Extreme heat:** cooling centres are posted on the **EmergencyInfoBC** map.

See [emergency services and alerts](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/emergency-services-and-alerts/).

![The large Legacy Prayer Drum sculpture, topped with a metal maple leaf, outdoors in Prince George](https://princegeorgepulse-media.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/prince-george/photos/legacy-prayer-drum-a38d51-699.webp)

The Legacy Prayer Drum, built by Clint George in 2015 to bring together the Canada Winter Games, Canada’s diversity and the Lheidli T’enneh vision of unity. [Photo: MVict, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Legacy_Prayer_Drum.jpg)

## Indigenous services

The **Prince George Native Friendship Centre** (Gathering Place, 1600 3rd Avenue) offers programs for all ages, from infants to Elders. These include shelter and emergency resources, a dental clinic, education and employment programs, and the Smokehouse kitchen training program. Members of the **Lheidli T’enneh First Nation** can contact the Nation’s administration at 250-562-0847. See [First Nations governance](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/civic/first-nations-governance/).

## Low-cost recreation and learning

- **Leisure Access Program:** 52 free swims a year and 75% off swim passes and programs for low-income residents. See [recreation centres and pools](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/recreation-centres-and-pools/).
- **Public library:** free cards for city residents, plus free programs, computers and internet. See [libraries](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/libraries/).
- **Transit:** kids 12 and under ride free; the BC Bus Pass is available for eligible low-income seniors and people on disability assistance.

## Work and income

- **WorkBC** offers free job search help, training funding and wage subsidies for eligible people.
- **Service BC** helps with income assistance, disability assistance and other provincial programs.

## Scams

The City never texts about parking tickets or bills, and never asks for banking information, your SIN or passwords by phone. Report fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

## How the City supports this work

The City funds community non-profits through **community grants** (70 to 100 groups a year, on average), **permissive tax exemptions**, and **subsidized facility rentals**. It also convenes committees on issues like poverty reduction. If you run a non-profit, see the City’s community grants page.

Related: [health care](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/health-care/), [seniors and accessibility](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/seniors-and-accessibility/). Find local agencies in the [directory](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/directory/).

## Common questions

**What crisis lines can I call in Prince George?**

9-8-8 (call or text) for suicide crisis, the Northern BC 24-hour Crisis Line at 250-563-1214 or 1-888-562-1214, 310-6789 (no area code) for mental health support, and the Northern BC Youth Support Line at 1-888-564-8336. All are free and confidential.

**Where is the food bank in Prince George?**

The Salvation Army food bank is at the Curt Garland Community Support Centre, 3500 18th Avenue. Card registration is drop-in Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30 to 11 a.m. Bring ID for everyone in the household and proof of address for adults. Phone 250-564-4000 ext. 1.

**Where can I find an emergency shelter in Prince George?**

BC Housing’s emergency shelter program lists shelters across BC, including Prince George. You can also call 2-1-1 for help, or contact the Prince George Native Friendship Centre about its shelter programs. During extreme cold, the City lists extra warming spaces.

**How do I find free or low-cost services in Prince George?**

Call or text 2-1-1, or search bc.211.ca. It’s a free, confidential, 24/7 directory of community, social and government services across BC.

**Is there help paying for recreation?**

Yes. The City’s Leisure Access Program gives low-income residents 52 free swims a year plus 75% off swim passes and programs. Library cards and most library programs are free.

## Sources

- [Crisis Prevention, Intervention and Information Centre for Northern BC: Contact](https://crisis-centre.ca/contact/)
- [Salvation Army Prince George: Food Bank](https://www.sapg.ca/services/food-bank/)
- [Salvation Army Prince George: Locations and contact](https://www.sapg.ca/contact-us/)
- [City of Prince George: Extreme Weather Resources](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/emergency-response-public-safety/extreme-weather-resources)
- [City of Prince George: Support for Non-Profits](https://www.princegeorge.ca/community-culture/social-health-planning/support-non-profits)

## Official links

- [bc211: find community services](https://bc.211.ca/)
- [Crisis Centre for Northern BC](https://crisis-centre.ca/)
- [9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline](https://988.ca/)
- [Salvation Army Prince George food bank](https://www.sapg.ca/services/food-bank/)
- [BC Housing: emergency shelter program](https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/homelessness-services/emergency-shelter-program)
- [City extreme weather resources](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/emergency-response-public-safety/extreme-weather-resources)
- [Prince George Native Friendship Centre](https://www.pgnfc.com/)

## On this page

- [In a crisis](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/community-support/#in-a-crisis)
- [Finding services: 2-1-1](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/community-support/#finding-services-2-1-1)
- [Food](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/community-support/#food)
- [Shelter and extreme weather](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/community-support/#shelter-and-extreme-weather)
- [Indigenous services](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/community-support/#indigenous-services)
- [Low-cost recreation and learning](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/community-support/#low-cost-recreation-and-learning)
- [Work and income](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/community-support/#work-and-income)
- [Scams](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/community-support/#scams)
- [How the City supports this work](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/community-support/#how-the-city-supports-this-work)

## More in city services

- [Moving to Prince George: a new resident checklist A checklist for settling into Prince George: utilities, garbage day, alerts, MSP and a family doctor, ICBC, voting, schools and winter readiness.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/moving-to-prince-george/)
- [Garbage, recycling and the landfill How curbside garbage and recycling work in Prince George: cart sizes and costs, set-out times, bear rules and where to take what the cart won’t.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/garbage-and-recycling/)
- [Water, sewer and sprinkling rules Where Prince George tap water comes from, year-round sprinkling rules, frozen pipes, leaks, water meters and what not to flush.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/water-and-sewer/)
- [Property taxes and utility bills Prince George property tax and utility due dates, how to pay, the home owner grant, MyCity accounts, utility rates and what if you fall behind.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/property-taxes-and-utilities/)
- [Snow clearing, winter parking and roads How Prince George plows its streets, when your road gets cleared, winter parking rules, spring sweeping, road closures and reporting potholes.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/snow-and-roads/)
- [Getting around by bus A practical guide to Prince George Transit: fares, Umo, passes, handyDART, free-ride days, trip planning and service alerts.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/transit/)

## Data

Machine-readable data behind this page, from the free PG Pulse API (https://princegeorgepulse.ca/developers/).

### Guide facts, FAQ and sources

Source: [PG Pulse guides (plain-language guides with links to official sources)](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/). Licence: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Updated 2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z.
JSON: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/api/v1/guides/city/community-support?fields=summary,faq,officialLinks,sources,updated

- **summary**: In danger right now? Call 9-1-1. Thinking about suicide? Call or text 9-8-8., The Northern BC 24-hour crisis line is 250-563-1214 or 1-888-562-1214., Call or text 2-1-1, or search bc.211.ca, to find free and low-cost community services., The Salvation Army food bank is at 3500 18th Avenue (250-564-4000 ext. 1)., BC Housing lists emergency shelters; warming centres open during extreme cold.
- **updated**: 2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z

#### faq

| q | a |
| --- | --- |
| What crisis lines can I call in Prince George? | 9-8-8 (call or text) for suicide crisis, the Northern BC 24-hour Crisis Line at 250-563-1214 or 1-888-562-1214, 310-6789 (no area code) for mental health suppo… |
| Where is the food bank in Prince George? | The Salvation Army food bank is at the Curt Garland Community Support Centre, 3500 18th Avenue. Card registration is drop-in Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30… |
| Where can I find an emergency shelter in Prince George? | BC Housing’s emergency shelter program lists shelters across BC, including Prince George. You can also call 2-1-1 for help, or contact the Prince George Native… |
| How do I find free or low-cost services in Prince George? | Call or text 2-1-1, or search bc.211.ca. It’s a free, confidential, 24/7 directory of community, social and government services across BC. |
| Is there help paying for recreation? | Yes. The City’s Leisure Access Program gives low-income residents 52 free swims a year plus 75% off swim passes and programs. Library cards and most library pr… |


#### officialLinks

| label | url |
| --- | --- |
| bc211: find community services | https://bc.211.ca |
| Crisis Centre for Northern BC | https://crisis-centre.ca/ |
| 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline | https://988.ca |
| Salvation Army Prince George food bank | https://www.sapg.ca/services/food-bank/ |
| BC Housing: emergency shelter program | https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/homelessness-services/emergency-shelter-program |
| City extreme weather resources | https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/emergency-response-public-safety/extreme-weather-resources |
| Prince George Native Friendship Centre | https://www.pgnfc.com |


#### sources

| title | url |
| --- | --- |
| Crisis Prevention, Intervention and Information Centre for Northern BC: Contact | https://crisis-centre.ca/contact/ |
| Salvation Army Prince George: Food Bank | https://www.sapg.ca/services/food-bank/ |
| Salvation Army Prince George: Locations and contact | https://www.sapg.ca/contact-us/ |
| City of Prince George: Extreme Weather Resources | https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/emergency-response-public-safety/extreme-weather-resources |
| City of Prince George: Support for Non-Profits | https://www.princegeorge.ca/community-culture/social-health-planning/support-non-profits |

---

Markdown version of https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/community-support/. Guide for AI agents: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/llms.txt. Free API: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/developers/