Supportive housing at former Waverley Inn in Halifax delayed

HALIFAX, N.S. — A supportive housing program going into the old Waverley Inn on Barrington Street in Halifax is not ready for residents yet.

On Nov. 10, the province announced $1.9 million in funding for a 32-bed housing project to support women and gender-diverse people experiencing homelessness. In the release, it was expected to open in December.

But Danielle Hodges, senior director of programs at the YWCA which is the service provider, said on Wednesday that the Waverley Supported Housing Program is not open.

“We are working as fast as possible to become operational and are working diligently to ensure our housing program provides a safe, secure and supportive environment for folks,” she wrote in an email.

She did not explain why it’s not ready yet or approximately when it will open.

It’s also not a shelter, she wrote.

“We know from the response to interviews with those living in encampments, that what they want above anything is a place to live,” she wrote.

“Waverley is not a shelter but a longer-term supportive housing option, providing 24 / 7 wrap-around support care, in the hopes of getting people out of the homelessness system. This has served as an excellent example of a collaborative approach to helping to address homelessness and we are thankful for the partnerships with the province and Grafton Developments.”

Property owner Grafton Developments is working on a 10-storey addition to the historic hotel which has been shuttered since the beginning of the pandemic. Their development will be put on pause for three years for the housing project.

When they are ready to start the intake process, Hodges said it will be a phased approach with priority given to those on the by-name list who are sleeping rough in HRM. 

How long the tenants will stay will be based on the tenants’ needs.