Souls Harbor mission expands to Lower Sackville with new drop-in center

The Souls Harbor Rescue Mission has opened a drop-in center in Lower Sackville, NS, for people in need of support.

The organization is expanding its operations with the new facility that can accommodate 72 people. It provides free meals and other basic necessities.

Lauren Goerz, donor care specialist at Souls Harbor Rescue Mission, said there is a large kitchen with plenty of counter space. “So our cook is very excited about that.”

Goerz said the rising cost of living and the housing crisis have led people living in the suburbs to rely on their services.

“Maybe they can’t afford to do three meals a day,” she said. “They can make two meals a day and if we help them with that one extra meal it relieves them a little bit.”

The drop-in center is operated Tuesday through Friday in the gymnasium at the back of Rock Church.

In addition to the daily meal service, the center will provide clothing and hygiene products to people in need. The first meal will be served on Tuesday.

Homelessness more visible

Homelessness has become more apparent in Lower Sackville in recent years, the local councilman says.

“They’ve been here for a number of years,” Coun says. Paul Russell. “In recent years, they’ve started moving out of the forest and into more of the central park.”

Russell said the problem of homelessness in the community was brought to his attention when he was first elected in 2019, and it has only gotten worse.

The Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia, a non-profit organization, says the number the number of homeless people in Halifax Regional Municipality has more than doubled in the past two years

That number stood at 930 on June 27, says the association.

A new facility that will help those struggling in the Lower Sackville area is more than welcome, Russell said.

“It’s fantastic,” he said. “We have a number of community groups committed to doing exactly this sort of thing and it’s great to see this collaboration. I’m thrilled.”

Russell said homelessness and mental health are the county government’s responsibility, but there are opportunities for the council to work with the county to address these issues.

The modular units in downtown Halifax and downtown Dartmouth are a good example of that collaboration, he says.

“By working with the county, we really see the traction and we really see the good things that are possible,” Russell said.