Former Dartmouth hotel being converted into supportive housing

A former hotel in Dartmouth is being transformed into 65 permanent supportive housing units.

The old Travelodge on Yorkshire Avenue will be renamed The Overlook.

The innovative housing project, to be operated by the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia and the North End Community Health Centre, is being described as a “first of its kind in Atlantic Canada.”

“It's a harm reduction, peer-supported housing program for adults who have long experienced addictions, struggle with addiction and have the associated chronic health issues that go with that,” explained the North End Community Health Centre's executive director, Marie-France LeBlanc at the Thursday morning virtual announcement.

Staff will include harm reduction housing workers and health care workers.

“We'll have a registered nurse, personal care workers, a nurse practitioner, addictions specialist, we'll also have dedicated access to physicians,” LeBlanc explained.

“And given the complex health care needs of the individuals in The Overlook, we also have supports around end-of-life planning, including one of the first death doulas in Atlantic Canada.”

LeBlanc said a sense of community will be a main priority of the facility, which will have several shared spaces.

“A library, a multi-use group meeting space, a pharmacy, a drop-in centre for tenants, a counselling office, a cafe and a community kitchen,” she detailed.

“As well, we're creating exterior environments to allow community members to engage with one another and the land around them.”

The province is providing $3.5 million to purchase the property and will cover $1.5 million in annual operating costs.

The federal government and HRM are contributing $6.5 million through the Cities Stream under the Rapid Housing Initiative.