Housing Navigation

The Basics

TRAC has opened a new Drop-In Program, where tenants can receive free in-person support with their tenancy issues. Our Housing Navigators can provide information on tenancy issues, referrals to other organizations, and in-person support with Residential Tenancy Branch applications. While our Navigators cannot provide legal advice, they may be able to assist with the intake process for our Housing Law Clinic.

Drop-In Hours

Monday: 10am – 4pm
Tuesday: 11am – 6pm
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 10am – 4pm
Friday: 10am – 4pm
Weekends and Statutory Holidays: Closed

How to Find Us

Address: 150 – 900 Howe Street Vancouver BC, V6Z 2M4

Intersection: Howe and Smithe

Entrance: On Smithe Street, between Howe and Granville. Our front door is between the alleyway and Waves Coffee.

Accessibility Notes:

There are a few steps up to our office with railing support.
For ramp access, enter at the corner of Smithe and Howe and head left (east) towards our front door. The door can be automatically opened using the button on the left of the doorway.

Transit: Use Translink’s Trip Planner tool (Trip Planner | TransLink) to find the best transit route for you.

Skytrain: Take the Canada Line to Vancouver City Centre and exit onto Granville St. OR take the Expo Line to Granville and exit onto Granville St. Head south (towards Robson St.) until you reach Smithe St. Turn right and our office will be on your left between the alley and Waves Coffee.

Bus:

Nearby Buses: 002, 004, 007, 010, 014, 016, 017, 020, 050

Nearby Bus Stations:

Southbound Granville St. @ Robson St.

004, 007, 010, 014, 016, 050

Northbound Granville St. @ Smithe St.

004, 007, 010, 014, 016, 050

Westbound Robson St. @ Granville St.

017, 020

Northbound Burrard St. @ Smithe St.

Southbound Burrard St. @ Barclay St.

Parking: Please reach out to us for guest parking lot access prior to arriving at our office.

What to Bring

If applicable, bring or have a way to access the following. We can assist with printing and scanning.

Eviction notices (Notices to End Tenancy)
Notices of dispute resolution proceedings (with the hearing date)
Tenancy agreements (leases or contracts), or at least your landlord’s name and contact information.
Decisions and orders by the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB)
Anything filed with the BC Supreme Court (petitions, stays of proceedings, etc.)
Relevant evidence (letters, photos, videos, etc.)

Code of Conduct

Vision

TRAC is a safe, accessible, and inclusive space where tenants can access a range of free services. We do not assist landlords.

NOTE: “Tenant” = anyone who pays rent to live in their home, or who is looking for rental housing.

TRAC is committed to supporting the diverse needs of visitors regarding race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, and physical or cognitive abilities. TRAC is mindful of creating an inclusive space for people experiencing barriers due to ableism, ageism, classism, cisheteronormativity, sexism, racism, transphobia, fatphobia, mental health, and stigma surrounding addiction.

General Guidelines

Conduct that is racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, classist, transphobic, cissexist or ableist are not permitted.
Conduct that is violent, threatening, abusive, discriminatory or harassing is not permitted.
Smoking or vaping is not permitted
Guests must respect the privacy of others
Guests must first gain permission before filming, photographing or voice recording anyone.
Registered service animals may enter all areas of the building that a guest may enter.
Guests are expected to leave TRAC at closing, during emergency evacuations (e.g., fire alarms), and whenever requested by staff.
Guests are expected to supervise accompanying children
Personal possessions or valuables must not be left unattended
Eating or drinking at the public computers is not permitted.
Guests must not use the internet for any purpose that violates the law, including obscenity, child pornography, sedition and the incitement of hate, or in any manner that disrupts or interferes with other individuals, including displaying or sending content which may be reasonably interpreted as offensive
Guests must not use TRAC resources for illegal, actionable, or criminal purposes
While TRAC provides high quality masks and hand sanitizer, guests are discouraged from visiting while sick
Guests must not damage, deface, alter or destroy TRAC resources, including books, furniture, equipment, software, hardware or data.

Disruptive Behaviour

General Disruption: Persistent noisemaking; unreasonably occupying other people’s space; or intoxication from drugs or alcohol, resulting in an inability to respond in a clear and comprehensive way.

Reasonable efforts will be made to give a verbal warning before asking someone to leave.

Period of Suspension: 1 day

Verbal or Physical Harassment: Stalking; harassing communication or photography/recording; intentional disruption of events and meetings; or aggressive or derogatory comments.

Period of suspension: 2 weeks to 3 months

Sexual Harassment: Any unwanted sexual attention or invitations; unwanted physical contact; derogatory or degrading remarks, inappropriate jokes or innuendos; sharing sexually offensive or derogatory content; unwelcomed questions or sharing of information regarding a person’s body, sexual activity or sexual orientation; or leering, staring or making sexual gestures.

Period of Suspension: 1 month to 1 year

Theft: Stealing personal property from staff, guests, or TRAC as an organization. Personal property must be returned or properly compensated.

Period of suspension: 2 weeks to 1 month

Willful Damage to Property: Damaging any part of the building, inside or out, including furniture, equipment, or other people’s belongings.

Period of Suspension: 2 weeks to 2 months

Physical Assault or Abuse: Verbal, physical, or electronic communication that threatens violent action; or intentional use of physical force.

Period of Suspension: 3 months to permanent

Sexual Assault or Abuse

Any form of sexual abuse or violence that includes threatening action or intentional force.

Period of suspension: Permanent

Additional Notes

Suspensions may be modified depending on the specifics of the incident.
Repeated disruption may result in a longer suspension
Refusal to leave may result in a longer suspension.
All incidents resulting in suspension are documented and stored on file for 3 years.
TRAC acknowledges that some guests are more negatively impacted by the criminal justice system. We will avoid calling the police unless it is necessary to protect the safety and security of staff and guests.

Review and Re-entry

Any suspension longer than 1 day (or a repeated 1-day suspension) will require a meeting with the Housing Navigator Team Lead or other senior staff member before re-entry is approved.

Public Computer Usage Disclaimer

Internet Usage Policy

TRAC offers internet access to our users as a means of providing access to online information resources and as a valuable tool for conducting legal research.

TRAC cannot control internet content, and we cannot manage how other websites use or distribute the information users share while interacting with them. Personal information could be collected, used, and disclosed by some sites for purposes such as preparing mailing lists, identifying your online preferences and activities for marketing purposes, or compiling statistics. Users should always use caution before entering financial information, passwords, or other sensitive personal information online.

TRAC assumes no responsibility for any direct or indirect damages arising from the use of our internet connection nor do we assume any responsibility for the content of any sites.

User Agreement

Users of this public computer system are bound by Canadian copyright laws, obscenity laws, and all other applicable laws. Users must not use TRAC’s public computers for illegal, actionable, or criminal purposes. Disrupting, vandalizing, or otherwise tampering with computer systems, and attempting to gain unauthorized access to computer systems or networks is strictly prohibited.

Internet usage may be monitored by TRAC for the purposes of security and service optimization. Logging off protects user confidentiality between sessions. TRAC is not responsible for users who expose confidential information by failing to log off. Please limit your usage to 30 minutes when others are waiting for a computer.

Logging into a TRAC public computer constitutes acceptance of these terms.

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