First occupants move into Dartmouth modular shelters
Sunday was a day months in the making, as volunteers with the Out of the Cold Community Association put the finishing touches inside the emergency modular units that will eventually house 26 people.
Making the beds, hanging hooks, and filling up soap dispensers – the volunteers were busy doing what they could to make the shelters feel more like a home.
“And tomorrow once folks are all moved in, we're going to have a ‘store’ so they can pick out two pieces of art that they like for their room, and brand-new socks,” says Chloe Budd, housing coordinator for the Association.
“We've been working hard, there's been so many components, so many moving parts,” says Budd, “I think it's going to feel like a huge relief for people who've been sleeping precariously for a really long time, but also sleeping in the arena, which has been tough.”
The association - and the people it has been helping – moved out of the Gray Arena this afternoon – after using it as a temporary shelter this winter.
The provincial government has awarded the association a $2.7 million contract to deliver supportive housing services to occupants at the Dartmouth modular site for the next two years.
“We're going to have programs in the kitchen, we're going to continue our life skills program, and we'll also have an art therapist come in once a week which is very exciting,” says Budd.
A fully accessible unit, which will house two people, is yet to be completed, as is the site kitchen. That means the association still needs volunteers help to provide three meals a day at the Church St. location.
The city is planning a similar modular site in Halifax, behind the Centennial Pool. That part of the project is intended to house another 38 people but isn’t expected to be ready until late March.
The budget for all the modular units is now $4.9 million.
“It’s not a good time to be staying outside,” says Drew Moore, a volunteer with the P.A.D.S Community Network, which assists those without a home in the city.
But according to the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia, there are more than 450 people in the city without a place to live.
That’s why Moore says both the city and the province need to act more quickly on the housing crisis.
He’d like to see the city’s warming centre given the resources to open more frequently throughout the winter, rather than waiting for the threshold of -15 degrees or 25 centimeters of snow or more.
Moore also says progress on long-term solutions is overdue.
“People who are unhoused right now need housing, and not just any housing but we do need housing that is permanent, that is accessible, that is dignified, and that is safe," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hamas says latest ceasefire talks have ended. Israel vows military operation in 'very near future'
The latest round of Gaza cease-fire talks ended in Cairo after "in-depth and serious discussions,"{ the Hamas militant group said Sunday, reiterating key demands that Israel again rejected.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
B.C. man wants homes for thousands of books he soon won't be able to read
In the 10 years since John William started to lose his vision, he's been finding new ways to enjoy his vast personal library.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Trudeau 'absolutely' best person to lead the Liberals in next election: LeBlanc insists
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc insists he's not planning a leadership campaign to head the Liberal party, should current leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign, seemingly quashing rumours he's planning to make a move for his boss' job.
Bombarded with spam texts? Stats show the problem is getting worse in Canada
In particular, messages that involve phishing — an attack where a scammer tries to trick the recipient into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or sharing sensitive information — are on the rise.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
William Shatner says he would consider 'Star Trek' return: 'Here comes Captain Kirk!'
The Montreal-born actor, famed for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," says he is open to reprising the iconic role in the sci-fi franchise as long as the storytelling is stellar.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.