Winter shelter to open mid-November at former Dartmouth church on Windmill Road
DARTMOUTH, N.S. — After struggling to nail down a location, the Nova Scotia government announced on Friday a temporary winter shelter will be opening later this month in Dartmouth.
The 50-bed shelter will open “mid-November” at 197-199 Windmill Rd., the former St. Paul’s Church.
“As the weather starts to get colder, I am pleased to say we have secured a location for the winter shelter,” said Trevor Boudreau, minister of Community Services in a news release. “We know we need a variety of solutions to support people experiencing homelessness, and this shelter is one option that will help people now.”
There is room for expanding the number of beds “based on community need and extreme weather events.” It’s open for people of all genders and those 16 and older. It’s also pet-friendly.
An evening meal and a continental breakfast will be provided by Upwards Mobility Kitchens East and support services will be provided by 902 ManUp, an organization of African-Nova Scotian men promoting safe and healthy communities.
The municipality will help out with snow clearing and garbage pick up, as well as maintenance support for the building.
It is meant to be a temporary winter shelter that will operate every night until the spring, and there is an option to extend it.
Last month, provincial officials said they were struggling to secure a place to rent for the shelter because of 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.
Last year, the province funded 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 the Dartmouth location was not an option this year, said a spokesperson for the Department of Community Services.
This year, the province is supporting only one shelter but the need will be monitored. The budget to operate the temporary winter shelter is over $800,000.
