About the Out of the Cold Shelter
Phone: (902) 225-0770
Dates: November 27, 2011 until April 30, 2012
Hours: 9pm - 8am, seven nights per week
Out of the Cold Shelter is open to:
-men
-women
-transgender individuals
-youth (16 and older)
-couples
-pets (kennels provided)
Capacity:
There are 15 single beds. The Out of the Cold Shelter operates on a first come first serve basis. We do not hold beds for people in advance.
We operate as a low-barrier, harm reduction shelter. All guests (within capacity) are admitted regardless of intoxication, unless they pose a risk to their own safety or the safety of others. For more information on our admittance policies, please contact halifaxwintershelter@gmail.com or call (902) 225-0770.
Other Shelters in the city
Metro Turning Point (for men): (902) 420-3282
Adsum for Women and Children: (902) 423-5049
Phoenix Youth Shelter (for youth ages 12-24): (902) 405-3107 or toll free: (888) 878 5088
Barry House (for women): (902) 422-8324
Salvation Army (for ment): (902) 422-2363
Bryony House (for women and children fleeing abuse: (902) 429-9002
Housing crisis has become shelter crisis
As winter hits Nova Scotia, the Out of the Cold Shelter has filled up quickly with people who have no other housing options of where to spend the night. We opened on November 27, 2011 and we hope be open until April 30, 2011 (still more funding needed). During the month of December in 2010, we were at capacity every night between December 4th and Dec 16th. This trend has continued through the 2011 season with more than half of the nights operating at capacity with up to 8 people turned away per night. We operate on a first come first serve basis, opening our doors at 9pm with the capacity of 15 beds. Unfortunately, even our 15 beds are not meeting the growing need for shelter in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). We are regularly turning people away at the door and there are often no other beds available at other shelters, especially for men and youth. The housing crisis in Nova Scotia has worsened into a shelter crisis as well.
We are currently in dialogue with other shelter providers in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and the Department of Community Services (DCS) to help determine some solutions to this crisis. We would very much like to avoid a situation where all shelters are full and we are forced to turn people away onto the street without any options. We believe that the Department of Community Services has the responsibility to ensure that everyone who needs shelter has access to shelter, whether that be in an emergency shelter or in their own housing. While we think that building and investing in affordable, accessible and supportive housing would make the largest impact on reducing capacity issues at emergency shelters, we realize that this is an ongoing and long-term goal. We hope that we can work with DCS to find some solutions to the shelter crisis in the short-term without losing sight of the long-term goals for adequate and affordable housing.
We would also like to recognize DCS for a funding contribution to the Out of the Cold Shelter that has assisted us in hiring a limited number of paid staff to support guests and volunteers. While this has made a significant impact on the functioning of the Out of the Cold Shelter, this contribution covers only a portion of our overall expenses and is earmarked specifically for staffing. For all other expenses we must rely on individual donations and small community grants. Thank you to everyone who has contributed and supported the Out of the Cold Shelter.
If you are able to provide a financial contribution or donate Tim Horton's Gift Cards that we can distribute to people who are not able to access shelter, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be made with the PayPal button on the website or mailed / dropped off to Saint Matthew's United Church (1479 Barrington St) weekdays between 8am-12:30pm. Please make cheques payable to "Saint Matthew's United Church" with a note that it is for the Shelter Fund. Charitable receipts provided.
Please contact otcs.coordinator@gmail.com for more information on donating.
A big THANK YOU to the Lord Nelson Hotel for their generosity in providing us with laundry facilities last season. Unfortunately for us they are not able to continue providing us with this service. We are desperately looking for an industrial cleaning location that could provide us with laundering services. If your organization is able to provide this service, or if you are interested in helping us solicit such a sponsor, please contact our Site Coordinator @ otcs.coordinator@gmail.com.
