Two new shelter villages open in the Halifax area
Formerly homeless people began to move into new units last week
People who used to be homeless in the Halifax area have started moving into two newly opened shelter villages that provide transitional housing.
Eighty-five new units are now open, with 40 of them at a development near Thomas Raddall Drive in Halifax and 45 more at a location near Burnside Industrial Park in Dartmouth.
People started moving in last week when both shelter villages opened.
"It is vitally important. We have a tremendous number of unhoused people in the Halifax area," said Paul Rudderham, the director of operations for the Atlantic Community Shelters Society, which manages the site.
New residents are being chosen through referrals from outreach teams and the by-name list that tracks people experiencing homelessness in Halifax.
The list, maintained by the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia, reported 1,161 people were in need of housing as of Jan. 8.
Some of those who have already moved in previously lived in tent encampments.
"Their reaction is very positive. They're very grateful coming from an encampment. We're providing a real shelter, real food, laundry facilities, Wi-Fi and of course the other support services and counselling as required," Rudderham said.
The villages provide small units that include a bed and desk with storage space. A shared building with washroom and shower facilities is also available.
There are now six shelter villages the province has funded in Nova Scotia at a cost of $7.5 million in response to the housing crisis.
A news release said in addition to the villages there are now 538 shelter beds and more than 800 supportive housing units across the province.
