Space available in city’s homeless shelters
Posted Feb 2, 2010 02:10:51 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The city’s largest emergency shelter is telling homeless people space is available as the freezing temperatures create challenges for people looking to get out of the cold.
Metro Turning Point shelter has 80 beds for men, and Barry House has 20 beds for women.
Executive Director Bill Pratt tells us they have space available.
“Every night at Metro Turning Point, and Barry House, there are beds available,” said Pratt.
He says occupancy is surprisingly not related to temperature. Still Pratt says it’s important to get people off the street.
“The weather is obviously a significant danger factor and that’s concerning to us,” Pratt said. “Because anybody who is out in the cold anywhere in Canada this time of the year, it’s very difficult.”
Community Action on Homelessness Program Director Claudia Jahn says it’s a serious issue.
“Last year we had 1,200 individuals who were homeless in Halifax,” Jahn said. “So this number tells you already that this is severe enough.”
Today is the 13th annual “Toque Tuesday”, where the purchase of a toque helps support the fight against homelessness.
To buy a toque call Halifax Housing Help at 423-0722.
