Who We Are
We’re a nonprofit based in Smithers, working throughout Witsuwit'en and Gitxsan
territories. We support folks through harm reduction, peer support, meals, and
emergency shelter. We believe everyone deserves safety, food, warmth, healthcare,
connection, and a place to belong. These things shouldn’t depend on someone’s drug use,
mental health, legal history, or life circumstances. We want to live in a
community where people’s basic needs are met.
Who we serve
We support people in our community who experience barriers to safety, housing,
healthcare, and belonging. This includes people who use drugs, people experiencing
homelessness, people living with mental health challenges, and 2SLGBTQIA+ community
members.
We work to create safer, culturally responsive spaces for everyone, especially those too
often left out of mainstream support systems.
Our values
These values inform every part of our work, and we expect our staff and volunteers to
share them.
Everyone deserves what they need to live
Everyone deserves safety, food, warmth, healthcare, connection, and a place to
belong. These things shouldn’t depend on someone’s drug use, mental health, legal
history, or life circumstances.
When some people in our community are going without, it affects all of us. We look
out for each other, share what we have, and help people access what they need. We
challenge systems that make it easier for some people to have their needs met than
others. No one in our society is more or less important than anyone else.
Harm reduction
We meet each other where we’re at. We don’t require sobriety, treatment, or proof of
worthiness to access support.
We focus on removing barriers and responding to needs, rather than blaming or
judging people. We recognize that keeping people connected is an important part of
keeping people safe.
Community-driven solutions
Nothing About Us Without Us. People with lived and living experience should
have a meaningful role in shaping, delivering, and improving the work that affects
them. We value lived and living experience alongside other forms of knowledge and
expertise.
Relationships and community
Our work is built on relationships. We listen first, avoid assumptions, and take the
time to build trust and accountability.
We recognize that trauma can affect how people experience services, conflict, and
relationships. We work to create spaces that feel welcoming, human, and connected to
community rather than rigid or institutional. We make room for creativity,
interests, autonomy, and different ways of being.
We believe safety is built through relationships, communication, and thoughtful
planning. We work hard to find alternatives to exclusion and punishment, while
maintaining clear boundaries around safety.
Cultural safety and humility
We recognize that these lands were never ceded to the Canadian state, and that
colonialism continues to shape who has access to housing, healthcare, and safety.
We are committed to challenging colonial systems and building respectful
relationships with Witsuwit'en, Gitxsan, and other Indigenous Nations. We recognize
Indigenous sovereignty, laws, cultures, and protocols, and understand that cultural
humility is an ongoing practice of learning and being accountable.
Dignity and inclusion
We challenge stigma and the systems that create housing insecurity, discrimination,
and the criminalization of poverty and substance use. We work to reduce barriers for
people who are often excluded.
We recognize that people experience systems differently and that everyone has
different needs. We don’t expect everyone to fit the same model. We work to make
room for people as they are and support people in getting what they need.
Integrity and courage
We take responsibility for our actions and decisions. We listen to feedback,
acknowledge when we get things wrong, and stay open to change.
We are willing to question policies, practices, and systems that cause harm,
including our own. We try new things, learn from what happens, and keep working
toward something better.
We believe in showing up for each other and for our community, even and especially
when things are hard.
Board of directors
Our board sets the direction of the society. Members elect it at the Annual General
Meeting, and any member can stand for it.
We're introducing our directors here — names, photos and short bios — before the shelter opens.
Management team
These are the people running the day-to-day work.
The management team will be listed here, with photos and short bios, before the shelter opens.
Interested in joining us? Job postings are listed on the
Get Involved page.
