Emergency shelter to open inside Multi Purpose Centre at Halifax Forum

HRM and the provincial government are opening an emergency shelter at the Multi-purpose Centre at the Halifax Forum.

The new 24-hour, 7-day-per-week shelter will open Jan. 22 and will provide 50 beds, 35 for men and 15 for women to start, with plans to expand to 70 in the coming weeks. HRM says the shelter can be expanded based on community need or extreme weather events.

“We’ve worked closely with the Halifax Regional Municipality to provide Nova Scotians experiencing homelessness with more shelter options,” said Trevor Boudreau, Minister of Community Services. “Through valuable partnerships with municipalities and service providers like 902 Man Up, we have created almost 500 shelter beds to help people experiencing homelessness across the province.”

The new shelter will offer showers and storage for people living there, and the province will cover the operating and staffing costs, which are estimated to be about 3 million dollars.

“The municipality’s response to helping those experiencing homelessness continues to be collaborative and community-based. Today’s announcement is a great example of how we’re working together with the Province and service providers to provide people a place where they can go to receive the support they need. It also demonstrates our objective to eventually get to a point where people don’t have to shelter outside,” said Mike Savage, Mayor of HRM.

The Shelter Nova Scotia co-ordinated outreach team, and municipal staff will work to ensure people staying in encampments are aware of the shelter, know how to access it and facilitate relocation to the shelter.

Municipal staff are also working with the Halifax Forum board of directors and staff, providing information and addressing impacts on previously scheduled events.