Co-Ed Shelter to Open in Sydney
Sydney will have an emergency shelter this winter providing around-the-clock housing and homelessness services for both women and men.
A new shelter will open in 2019 and until then, the province will invest $134,000 this year to extend emergency services in the current shelter location. The funding will be used to make changes to accommodate women and men.
“We know that offering emergency shelter, particularly for women, is greatly needed,” says Derek Mombourquette, Minister of Energy and Mines, on behalf of Kelly Regan, Minister of Community Services and Minister responsible for Housing Nova Scotia. “This is something that community partners have been calling for, for some time and we are pleased to make this a reality.”
Next year, the province will begin providing annual funding of $618,000 to help the Cape Breton Community Housing Association to manage a new shelter. The shelter will be a 24 hour a day, seven days a week, co-ed facility with eight rooms for men and six rooms for women. It will also include two accessible rooms.
“This funding is welcomed and essential to further develop a homeless serving system and to provide crisis supports and services for Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Fred Deveaux, executive director, Cape Breton Community Housing Association. “It moves us closer to the ultimate goal of ending homelessness in our community and is an important step in this process.”
Over the past year government has increased support to address homelessness in Cape Breton. This includes rent supplements targeted for homeless individuals, housing support workers and trusteeship, and introducing a monthly personal items allowance for those in homeless shelters and transition houses for women and children.
“This is a critical piece of infrastructure for those experiencing homelessness in the CBRM. This isn’t just bricks and mortar, but includes services offered around-the-clock such as outreach and housing support workers for both men and women,” said Catherine Leviten-Reid, associate professor of community economic development at Cape Breton University, and member of the Affordable Housing and Homelessness Working Group. “This investment is a vital piece of what is required to get people into more stable housing, and it is so important that the province and other partners have come together to support people who are among the most in need in our community.”