In Thunder Bay, Ontario, the Care Bus, operated by NorWest Community Health Centres (NWCHC), offers vital services to the city’s unsheltered population. Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, the bus provides warmth, harm reduction supplies, and basic healthcare services to vulnerable individuals. The program runs daily from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. through March 2025. It serves as a mobile warming center, offering food, clothing, and harm reduction resources like naloxone and safer drug use kits. This year, the bus has expanded staffing to accommodate a growing number of passengers.
Due to an increase in demand for shelter, the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board has funded 40 additional emergency shelter spaces. The Care Bus complements these efforts by connecting passengers with shelters, healthcare, and detox services. This season, pop-up clinics on board will provide health checks, vaccinations, and wound care.
Indigenous support is emphasized through the involvement of the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre, which helps ensure services are culturally appropriate. The bus fosters a client-centered, compassionate approach to outreach, especially for Indigenous individuals, who make up 78% of the unhoused population. The Care Bus plays a key role in addressing both immediate needs and long-term support for Thunder Bay’s most vulnerable residents.
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