Temperatures dip, but no emergency winter shelter yet in HRM

HALIFAX, N.S. — That cold autumn wind doesn’t wait for rental contracts.

The end of October is in sight but there is no word yet on an emergency winter shelter in HRM.

The province is struggling to find a space that would check off all the boxes “but we are very actively continuing to seek out a location and we’re quite confident and hopeful that we’ll be able to share something soon,” said Joy Knight, an official with the Department of Community Services in an interview on Tuesday.

The low vacancy rate, combined with the necessity of having a space for at least 50 beds that’s accessible, as well as close to transit and other services, is hard to find, she said.

“Location is key for us,” Knight said. “It’s not as simple as just picking a space.”

Last week, Max Chauvin, Halifax Regional Municipality’s director of housing and homelessness, told council that HRM might need to step up and offer up a recreation centre, like they did with the Gray Arena in 2021.

“We need space for 80 or so people and at this point without a location, there’s not much more we can announce,” Chauvin told council last week. Latest numbers suggest there are about 180 people sleeping outside in HRM right now. There are more than 1,000 people who are considered actively homeless.

Chauvin was unavailable for an interview Tuesday, but HRM spokesman Ryan Nearing said they’re waiting on the province to see how they proceed before offering a recreational centre, if needed.

At least 50 beds at one location

Emergency shelters are not the only solution, Knight pointed out, as she said the province is bringing forward a “package of support” that includes a tiny home village that will be constructed in Sackville, Pallet shelters and supportive housing.

But emergency shelters are needed, especially when permanent shelters (like the one on North Park Street) in Halifax fill up and the temperatures take a nosedive, creating dangerous conditions for sleeping outside.

Last year, there were two temporary winter shelters: St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Lower Sackville and Christ Church in Dartmouth, which was shut down in June. The Sackville location became a permanent shelter and Knight said the Dartmouth location was “not an option for us this year.”

This year, Knight said they’re looking to support only one shelter, but “we will continue to monitor the need.”

She said they’re looking for a space for at least 50 beds that can easily expand for more during extreme weather events. It will be operated by 902 ManUp and the budget is more than $800,000.

Knight said they are grateful that HRM is offering a rec centre as a Plan B but hope it won’t be needed. She added that they don’t have a specific date set as to when that Plan B would go into action.

“We’ll monitor the weather very closely and we’ll monitor the opportunities that we have ongoing that are on our radar, but we’ll have to make a decision imminently.”