**** CNS Media Release
Province Supports New Emergency Shelter in HRM
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The Province will provide funding for an emergency shelter this winter in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) to ensure people experiencing homelessness have a safe, warm place to stay.
“We know that people experiencing homelessness deserve a dignified place to shelter in the colder months,” said Karla MacFarlane, Minister of Community Services. “This location will provide shelter as well as access to services to help with the transition to more permanent housing solutions.”
The North Park Street location will open as an overnight shelter on Saturday, October 1, with 25 beds for all genders, replacing the temporary shelter at the Brunswick Street Mission. The location will transition to 40 beds by mid-November and introduce day programming to offer a wraparound supportive service. The shelter will soon be renamed by shelter residents and will reflect and support their cultural and social needs.
Staffing and support services will be provided by 902 Man Up, the service provider that has been working with the Province at the Brunswick Street Mission. It will provide on-site support to connect clients to community-based services and programming. These services could include access to housing support, social workers and harm reduction supports.
HRM will be providing in-kind property maintenance support for the North Park shelter site.
Quotes:
“902 Man Up is pleased to partner with the Province in ensuring that overnight emergency sheltering is available for those who need it. We are deeply committed to working on behalf of community and have been privileged to support homeless Nova Scotians since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This partnership will allow us to expand our services to include day programming and additional supports not currently available at the temporary shelter location.”
– Marcus James, President and Co-founder, 902 Man Up
“This is a vitally important investment in helping some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Together, between orders of government and the community sector, we can continue to find new ways to support those who are unhoused.”
– Mike Savage, Mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality
Quick Facts:
— the shelter is located at 2029 North Park St., Halifax
— 902 Man Up is a non-profit volunteer organization that provides supports people experiencing homelessness, ensuring they have access to the services they need
Additional Resources:
Mandate Letter of the Minister of Community Services: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-DCS-OLA-SOW.pdf
