Lookout Emergency Aid Society opened in 1971. They
offer three types of housing programs: 24-hour
shelters, transitional and permanent, with locations
across Metro Vancouver.

When Ian first came to the Lookout Emergency Aid Society, it was the last place he thought he’d find himself.

He spent his whole life working to provide for his family and thought retirement would be smooth and comfortable. Instead, he found his pension was too meager to afford shelter, and he ended up on the street.

Lookout Society staff reached out to Ian and brought him into one of their shelters. He was given a safe place to stay and access to healthcare. Their assistance helped Ian find affordable, permanent housing in a retirement home on the North Shore.

A history of reaching out

The Lookout Emergency Aid Society was established in 1971, one year after staff from a local youth hostel noticed an upward trend of older homeless men requesting beds. Through working with these people, it became apparent that those who suffered from chronic homelessness needed assistance with the issues in their lives that kept them from attaining stable housing.

The Lookout Society works to identify inadequacies within the social housing system and collaborates with other community groups and services to establish necessary resources. They offer three types of housing programs: 24-hour shelters, transitional, and permanent, with locations across Metro Vancouver.

The Lookout Society offer an outreach program, which provides short-term bridging and follow-up services to people seeking emergency accommodation. They also run the Home Start-up program, which provides home furnishings to people who are moving into permanent housing.

Providing solutions to homelessness

Karen Young, a Director of Resource Development with the Lookout Emergency Aid Society, explains that establishing a connection with each individual is the key to lifting them out of homelessness.

“Many people have similar stories, but no two individual situations are alike,” said Young. “Connecting with each person really illuminates the process of finding the best solution for them – solutions that will lead to healthy, stable lives.”

Please click here to donate to the Lookout Society and other Shelter Drive charities.