Province adds temporary shelter beds as temperatures dip

With temperatures dipping well below zero and biting wind chill expected into the weekend, community organizations across Nova Scotia are ramping up capacity to help more homeless people come inside.

The provincial government said it activated its "extreme weather protocol" this week, which means providing increased funding to help shelters add more beds and staff, or to open temporary shelters where they're needed.

Two new emergency shelters have opened. One in the St. Mary's Boat Club reception hall in south-end Halifax. It has space for 30 to 40 people and will remain open until Sunday. 

A temporary shelter has also opened in Musquodoboit Harbour at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. It will be open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

"For this cold weather this week ... we've been able to add a significant amount of capacity, particularly in [the Halifax Regional Municipality] where the need is most acute, but across the province as well," said Suzanne Ley, the executive director responsible for homelessness and housing at the Department of Opportunities and Social Development. 

Ley said as of Wednesday, there were 95 open shelter beds available across HRM, but she encouraged people to call ahead to check availability if they need a bed. 

As of Jan. 9, there were 40 tents at designated encampment sites in HRM and 13 trailers at Shubie Park, which has been designated as a space people can pay to live in RVs throughout the winter. In a count done before Christmas, there were 41 tents in non-designated locations.

Max Chauvin, Halifax's director of Housing and Homelessness, said the municipality provided the St. Mary's Boat Club at no charge. He said it has bathrooms, a small kitchen space and a large open room for beds. The usual recreation activities will be moved to different locations until Sunday.

The group 902 Man Up will be running the shelter. 

"It's all about the risks of cold injuries, so frostbite and just other things like that," Chauvin said. "So it's to give people a chance, if they want and if they need, to get out of the cold."

He said street navigators are working to make sure people sleeping rough know about the shelters and will help transport them if needed. Search and rescue volunteers have also been checking on people. 

The provincial government says anyone looking for emergency supports, including shelter beds, can call 211 to be connected to services near them.

Shelters responding to extreme weather

Halifax Regional Municipality

• North Park Shelter at 2029 North Park St., Halifax (902-429-3984)
• Halifax Forum at 6210 Young St., Halifax (902-830-4818)
• Windmill Road Shelter at 197 Windmill Rd., Dartmouth (902-333-1509)
• Beacon House at 125 Metropolitan Ave., Lower Sackville (902-864-1584)
• St. Mary's Boat Club at 1641 Fairfield Rd., Halifax (902-429-3984)
• St. Philip Neri Catholic Church at 8 Park Rd., Musquodoboit Harbour (902-889-2745)

Truro

• Haven House at 29 Arthur St., Truro (902-843-2538)
• Souls Harbour Rescue Mission at 38 Pleasant St., Truro (902-405-4663)

New Glasgow

• Viola's Place at 189 Marsh St., New Glasgow (902-752-0550)

Annapolis Valley

• Open Arms Shelter at 32 Bridge St., Kentville (902-679-1202)
• Orchard Valley United Church at 130 Cornwallis St., New Minas (902-679-1202)

Amherst

• Cumberland Homelessness and Housing Support Association at 10 Prince Arthur St., Amherst (902-669-2238)

Bridgewater

• St. Paul's Lutheran Church at 25 Phoenix St., Bridgewater (902-530-3198)
• Cedar Place at 629 King St., Bridgewater (902-904-0830)

Sydney

• Cape Breton Community Housing Association Shelter at 106 Townsend St., Sydney (902-564-9487)