Nearly a year after Nova Scotia announced plans for 200 self-contained shelters to aid the unhoused, only 80 are operational. These insulated, 70-square-foot units, manufactured by U.S. company Pallet, were part of a $7.5 million investment aimed to provide winter support for vulnerable residents. The Department of Community Services reported that work is ongoing to set up the remaining 120 shelters, with plans for 85 in the Halifax area and 35 in Whitney Pier, Cape Breton.
As of now, 1,287 individuals in the Halifax Regional Municipality are reported homeless. Last winter, Nova Scotia invested $3 million in an emergency shelter at the Halifax Forum, which has a 100-bed capacity, and is covering its operating costs through August 2025. Despite these efforts, unhoused residents in a downtown Halifax encampment have been informed they must vacate by November 1 due to safety concerns. City officials state that enough indoor shelter spaces will be available for those affected.
Currently, there are around 530 shelter beds in the province, predominantly located in Halifax, while other encampments remain unofficial and unsanctioned throughout the city. The situation highlights ongoing challenges in addressing homelessness as winter approaches.
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