Out of the Cold Shelter - Out of the Cold: Emergency Winter Shelter

Out of the Cold Shelter - Out of the Cold: Emergency Winter Shelter

Out of the Cold Shelter
Halifax, NS
Final Report 2009-2010
Report written by Corey Clamp, Capp Larsen and Jordan Roberts
Table of Contents
Purpose..........................................................3
Philosophy.....................................................3
Operational Structure...............................4
The Site..........................................................4
6WDIÀQJ
9ROXQWHHU7UDLQLQJDQG6XSSRUW
Community Support.................................6
Guest Feedback..........................................6
Volunteer Feedback..................................6
)XQGLQJ
2SHUDWLQJ%XGJHW
Statistics.........................................................9
Case Reports..............................................10
Needs...........................................................14
*DSVLQ6HUYLFHV
:KDW:H$UH&DOOLQJ)RU
Next Year.....................................................16
7KH&RVWRI1RW)XQGLQJ
Out of the Cold Shelter - Halifax, NS
3
Purpose
7KH2XWRIWKH&ROG(PHUJHQF\:LQWHU6KHOWHU27&6LVDFRPPXQLW\EDVHGYROXQWHHUUXQZLQWHUVKHOWHU
KDYLQJFRPSOHWHGLWVVHFRQG\HDURIRSHUDWLRQ7KHSULPDU\JRDOZDVWRSURYLGHVDIHDFFRPPRGDWLRQWRWKH
KRPHOHVVWKURXJKRXWWKHFROGZLQWHUPRQWKV1RYHPEHUWR$SULO$VZHOOWKHVKHOWHUZDV
WRSURYLGHDZHOFRPLQJDOWHUQDWLYHVKHOWHUHQYLURQPHQWZLWKDKLJKHUVWDIIVKHOWHUXVHUUDWLRZLWKEHGVRSHQ
WRPHQZRPHQWUDQJHQGHUHGSHRSOHDQG\RXWK5HFRJQL]LQJWKDWWKHUHDUHRWKHUVKHOWHUVHUYLFHVLQWKHFLW\
WKH27&6DLPHGWRVHUYHSHRSOHZKRFRXOGQRWUHDGLO\DFFHVVWKHH[LVWLQJVKHOWHUV\VWHPGXHWRPHQWDOKHDOWK
LVVXHVEDUULQJIURPRWKHUVKHOWHUVFRXSOHVZKRGLGQRWZDQWWREHVHSDUDWHGDQGRUWKHLQFUHDVLQJFDSDFLW\LVVXHVH[SHULHQFHGDWRWKHUVKHOWHUV7KH27&6RIIHUHGWKHVHVHUYLFHVZKLOHZRUNLQJLQWDQGHPZLWKH[LVWLQJVKHOters in order to prevent the duplication of services. The shelter was located at Saint Matthew’s United Church in
GRZQWRZQ+DOLID[DQGZDVRSHQIURPSPXQWLODPVHYHQGD\VDZHHN
The Out of the Cold Shelter provided an entrance point for people who are homeless to a continuum of supSRUWVZKLFKZHUHJHDUHGWRZDUGVKHOSLQJWKHPVHFXUHKRXVLQJDQGUHFHLYHDVVLVWDQFHWRPDQDJHFRPSOH[
SK\VLFDODQGPHQWDOKHDOWKQHHGV7KURXJKWKHFROODERUDWLRQRIPDQ\SDUWQHURUJDQL]DWLRQVWKHVKHOWHUZDVD
VLWHIRUSHRSOHWRDFFHVVVXSSRUWVERWKWKURXJKUHIHUUDOVDQGGLUHFWVHUYLFHSURYLVLRQ)RUH[DPSOH7KH0RELOH
2XWUHDFK6WUHHW+HDOWK7HDP026+DQG+DOLID[+RXVLQJ+HOSYLVLWHGWKHVKHOWHURQDZHHNO\EDVLVWRSURYLGH
care and assistance on-site.
The Homelessness Partnering Strategy Community Plan 2007-2009, a response to homelessness in the HRM,
ÀQGVWKDW´0DQ\LQGLYLGXDOVZKRH[SHULHQFHKRPHOHVVQHVVRUDUHDWULVNRIUHFXUULQJKRPHOHVVQHVVGHSHQGRQ
HPHUJHQF\VKHOWHUVLQ+50DVWKHLUcore service provider.”1 In all, we provided safe, secure shelter and primary
FDVHPDQDJHPHQWWRDGLYHUVHJURXSRIWKHKRPHOHVVSRSXODWLRQZKRRWKHUZLVHGLGQRWKDYHDFFHVVWREDVLF
support and shelter services.
Philosophy
The Out of the Cold Shelter is a low-barrier access shelter based on the principles of harm reduction. Harm
UHGXFWLRQLVDQDSSURDFKWKDWDWWHPSWVWRUHGXFHWKHKDUPRIKLJKULVNDFWLYLWLHVUDWKHUWKDQLQVLVWLQJRQDEVWLQHQFHPRVWFRPPRQO\DVVRFLDWHGZLWKGUXJRUDOFRKROXVH$WWKH27&6DKDUPUHGXFWLRQDSSURDFKLVXWLOL]HG
in our low-barrier admission policies. The only barrier to admission is that anyone who accesses the shelter
cannot pose a risk to the safety of others or to themselves. The two tenets that all policies are based upon are
VDIHW\DQGUHVSHFW,QWR[LFDWLRQRUXQFRQYHQWLRQDOEHKDYLRXUVRIWHQDVVRFLDWHGZLWKPHQWDOLOOQHVVDUHQRWEDUriers to admission.
7KH27&6UHFRJQL]HVWKDWVSHQGLQJWKHQLJKWZLWKRXWVKHOWHUHVSHFLDOO\GXULQJWKHZLQWHUSUHVHQWVDODUJHULVN
RIKDUPWRWKHLQGLYLGXDO7KHJRDORIWKHVKHOWHULVWRUHGXFHWKLVKDUPE\RIIHULQJDVDIHZDUPDQGZHOFRPLQJ
VSDFHIRUVRPHRQHWRVOHHSDQGHDW)LUVWDQGIRUHPRVWZHRIIHUVKHOWHUDQGVXSSRUWLQDQRQMXGJPHQWDOUHVSHFWIXODWPRVSKHUH7KLVLVSURYLGHGUHJDUGOHVVRIWKHSHUVRQ·VVLWXDWLRQZLWKWKHH[FHSWLRQRIVLWXDWLRQVWKDW
ZRXOGMHRSDUGL]HLQGLYLGXDORUFROOHFWLYHVDIHW\6HFRQGO\WKH27&6RIIHUVDQDFFHVVSRLQWIRULQWHJUDWHGVXSSRUWVHUYLFHVWKDWDVVLVWZLWKKRXVLQJRUKHDOWKUHFRYHU\,WZDVDFNQRZOHGJHGE\WKH6KHOWHU2UJDQL]LQJ&RPPLWWHHWKDWIRUDQ\RQHWREHDEOHWRHIIHFWLYHO\VHFXUHKRXVLQJRUDFKLHYHDQ\RWKHUJRDOVWKH\PXVWÀUVWKDYH
VRPHVHPEODQFHRIVWDELOLW\DQGDVDIHVSDFHWRVOHHSIRUWKHQLJKW7KH27&6VWULYHVQRWWRSODFHDQ\XQDFKLHYDEOHH[SHFWDWLRQVRQSHRSOHEXWWRRIIHUDSSURSULDWHVXSSRUWDQG´DFFHSWSHRSOHZKHUHWKH\DUHDWµ
7KHFHQWUDOSUHPLVHRIWKH27&6LVUHVSHFW$FXOWXUHRIUHVSHFWLVEXLOWDPRQJVWJXHVWVIRVWHULQJDVHQVHRIVHOI
ZRUWKDQGPXWXDOFDUHIRUWKHVSDFHDQGRWKHUSHRSOHLQFOXGLQJRWKHUJXHVWVDQGVWDII
1
Human Resources Skills Development Canada, Homelessness Partnering Strategy. Community Plan 2007-2009. Revised August 12, 2008
Out of the Cold Shelter - Halifax, NS
4
Operational Structure
7KHVKHOWHUZDVVWDIIHGE\DFRPPLWWHGDQGWUDLQHGJURXSRIRYHUYROXQWHHUVDQGSDLGVWDII%H\RQG
WKHVHLQGLYLGXDOVDFRPPLWWHHRISURIHVVLRQDOVWDIIIURPSDUWQHULQJRUJDQL]DWLRQVPDQDJHGWKHVKHOWHUDQG
supervised volunteers. Members of this committee provided on-location and on-call support to the volunteers
DQGVWDIIZKRSURYLGHGIURQWOLQHVHUYLFHVDWWKHVKHOWHU(DFKFRPPLWWHHPHPEHUYROXQWHHUHGDQHYHQLQJD
ZHHNWRKHOSRSHQWKHVSDFHFRQVXOWZLWKYROXQWHHUVGXULQJSUHRSHQLQJURXQGWDEOHPHHWLQJVEHRQFDOO
RYHUQLJKWDQGHQVXUHGVXSSOLHVZHUHLQSODFH7KHFRPPLWWHHPHWDWOHDVWRQFHDZHHNWRHYDOXDWHWKHVXFFHVV
RIWKHSURJUDPGHYHORSDQGUHYLVHSROLFLHVGLVFXVVDSSURSULDWHVXSSRUWDQGUHVRXUFHVIRUWKRVHDFFHVVLQJWKH
VKHOWHUDVZHOODVFROOHFWLYHO\PDQDJHDQ\LVVXHVWKDWDURVH
7KH27&6ZDVDFROODERUDWLYHHIIRUWRIQXPHURXVFRPPXQLW\DQGVHUYLFHEDVHGRUJDQL]DWLRQVDFURVV+DOLID[
RSHUDWLQJXQGHUWKHXPEUHOODRI0HWUR1RQ3URÀW+RXVLQJ$VVRFLDWLRQ7KHFRUHJURXSRIRUJDQL]DWLRQVLQvolved in the day-to-day operation of this shelter included:
0HWUR1RQ3URÀW+RXVLQJ$VVRFLDWLRQ
ARK Youth Outreach
Adsum for Women and Children
North End Community Health Centre
Dalhousie School of Social Work
'DOKRXVLH/HJDO$LG
Sisters of Charity
5RFNLQJKDP8QLWHG&KXUFK
“Firstly I applaud the staff for treating the guests with great respect and
kindness. It is a great and needed service. Everyone was so helpful and
supportive. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I worked and I am looking
forward to coming back in the fall.”
-a volunteer at Out of the Cold Shelter
On-site services were provided by:
0RELOH2XWUHDFK6WUHHW+HDOWK026+
+DOLID[+RXVLQJ+HOS+++
The Site
The Out of the Cold Shelter was
located at Saint Matthew’s United
&KXUFKDW%DUULQJWRQ6WUHHW
7KHVOHHSLQJDUHDZDVLQWKH6XQday School area in the basement of
the church. OTCS also had use of
RQHRIWKHSURJUDPURRPVDVWKH
KDQJRXWDUHDDVPDOONLWFKHQD
small Sunday school room for use
DVDQRIÀFHDVZHOODVWZRVWRUDJH
spaces for cots and supplies. Saint
Matthew’s United Church has been
very supportive of the OTCS, proYLGLQJWKHVSDFHDQGRWKHUVHUYLFHV
ZLWKRXWFKDUJH
The sleeping room
“I never felt out of place here like at other shelters – felt comfortable and personable.”
DJXHVWDW2XWRIWKH&ROG6KHOWHU
Out of the Cold Shelter - Halifax, NS
5
Staffing
2YHURQHKXQGUHGYROXQWHHUVGRQDWHGWKHLUWLPHDQGHQHUJ\WRDWWHQGWUDLQLQJVDQGZRUNHYHQLQJRYHUQLJKW
DQGPRUQLQJVKLIWVDWWKHVKHOWHU7KH27&6DOVRXWLOL]HGWKHHIIRUWVRIÀYHSDLGVWDIISHRSOHRQHHYHQLQJVWDII
SHUVRQWZRRYHUQLJKWVWDII)HE$SULORQHPRUQLQJVWDIISHUVRQDQGRQHDGPLQLVWUDWLYHFRRUGLQDWLQJVWDII
person.
7KHVKHOWHUZDVVWDIIHGE\ÀYHSHRSOHRQVLWHHDFKHYHQLQJLQFOXGLQJRQHPHPEHURIWKHVXSHUYLVLQJFRPPLWWHHDQGRQHSDLGHYHQLQJVWDIISHUVRQ)RUWKHÀUVWIHZPRQWKVRIRSHUDWLRQWZRYROXQWHHUVVWDIIHGWKHRYHUQLJKWVKLIWV,Q)HEUXDU\ZHKDGUHFHLYHGHQRXJKÀQDQFLDOVXSSRUWWKURXJKGRQDWLRQVDQGJUDQWVWREH
DEOHWRKLUHWZRRYHUQLJKWVWDIISHRSOHWRDVVLVWYROXQWHHUV)RUWKHUHPDLQLQJWKUHHPRQWKVRQHYROXQWHHUDQG
RQHSDLGVWDIISHUVRQVWDIIHGWKHRYHUQLJKWVKLIWV'XULQJWKHZHHNWZRYROXQWHHUVDQGRQHSDLGVWDIISHUVRQ
ZHUHSUHVHQWLQWKHPRUQLQJVWRKHOSZLWKEUHDNIDVWDQGFOHDQXS2QWKHZHHNHQGVWKUHHYROXQWHHUVÀOOHGWKH
PRUQLQJVKLIWUROHV
Volunteers included physicians, nurses, doulas, pastors, social workers, staff from other shelters, social work and
QXUVLQJVWXGHQWVKRXVLQJDGYRFDWHVUHOLJLRXVOHDGHUVWHDFKHUV\RXWKZRUNHUVDQGPDQ\PRUH
9ROXQWHHUVWDIÀQJHIIRUWVWRWDOHGDSSUR[LPDWHO\KRXUV
Volunteer Training and Support
7KHVKHOWHUDOVRKDGDJUHDWLPSDFWRQWKHYROXQWHHUVLQYROYHG7KHVKHOWHUEURXJKWSHRSOHWRJHWKHUVWUHQJWKHQLQJDVHQVHRIFRPPXQLW\ZKHUHZHWDNHUHVSRQVLELOLW\WRVXSSRUWHDFKRWKHULQWKHIDFHRIWUHPHQGRXV
REVWDFOHV9ROXQWHHUVJDLQHGNQRZOHGJHDQGH[SHULHQFHLQSURYLGLQJFDUHWRSHRSOHZKRIDFHVHULRXVKHDOWK
ULVNVGXHWRSRYHUW\DQGKRPHOHVVQHVV7KHWUDLQLQJYROXQWHHUVUHFHLYHGSURYLGHGWKHPZLWKWKHWRROVQHHGHG
WRNHHSWKHPVDIHDQGKHDOWK\ZKLOHDWWKHVDPHWLPHDOORZLQJWKHPWRSURYLGHLPSRUWDQWVHUYLFHV9ROXQWHHUV
OHDUQHGEDVLFKHDOWKSUHFDXWLRQVDQGDSSURSULDWHUHVSRQVHVZKHQZRUNLQJZLWKSHRSOHZLWKDGGLFWLRQVPHQWDO
KHDOWKLVVXHVDQGSK\VLFDOKHDOWKFRPSOLFDWLRQVFRPPRQWRWKRVHOLYLQJRQWKHVWUHHW
9ROXQWHHUVZHUHSURYLGHGZLWKWKHIROORZLQJWUDLQLQJVHVVLRQV
6KHOWHU2SHUDWLRQ2ULHQWDWLRQ3URYLGHGE\WKH6KHOWHU2UJDQL]LQJ&RPPLWWHH
Non-Violent Crisis Intervention – Provided by Adsum for Women and Children
6XLFLGH,QWHUYHQWLRQ$ZDUHQHVV²3URYLGHGE\WKH%UXQVZLFN6WUHHW0LVVLRQ
6WUHHW+HDOWK²3URYLGHGE\0RELOH2XWUHDFK6WUHHW+HDOWK026+
)LUVW$LG&35²3URYLGHGE\WKH5HG&URVV
&RQÁLFW0DQDJHPHQW²3URYLGHGE\'DOKRXVLH/DZ6FKRRO
2YHUGRVH(GXFDWLRQ²3URYLGHGE\+DOLID[+RXVLQJ+HOS026+
$FRPPXQLFDWLRQELQGHUZDVXWLOL]HGDWWKHVKHOWHUWRUHFRUGLVVXHVDQGIDFLOLWDWHFOHDUFRPPXQLFDWLRQ9ROXQWHHUVUHFHLYHGZHHNO\XSGDWHVDERXWWKHLVVXHVGLVFXVVHGDQGGHFLVLRQVPDGHE\WKHRUJDQL]LQJWHDPLQFOXGLQJSROLF\FKDQJHVDQGDGYLFHRQKRZWRGHDOZLWKFRPSOLFDWHGRUGLIÀFXOWVLWXDWLRQV0RQWKO\PHHWLQJVZLWK
volunteers allowed for clear communication with professional support staff and other volunteers as well as provided an opportunity for feedback and evaluation. Professional support staff were always available to provide
JXLGDQFHDQGVXSSRUWWRYROXQWHHUVGXULQJDQGDIWHUVKLIWV
Out of the Cold Shelter - Halifax, NS
6
Community Support
The OTCS was able to operate primarily because of widespread community support. In addition to the hunGUHGSHRSOHZKRYROXQWHHUHGWRZRUNVKLIWVDWWKHVKHOWHURYHULQGLYLGXDOVDQGFRPPXQLW\JURXSVSURYLGHG
PHDOVDQGWUDQVSRUWDWLRQRIVXSSOLHVWRWKHVKHOWHU:HDOVRUHFHLYHGFRXQWOHVVGRQDWLRQVRIFORWKLQJK\JLHQH
LWHPVEHGGLQJDQGIRRG7KH27&6ZDVDXQLTXHH[SHULHQFHIRUPDQ\LQYROYHGDQGDOORZHGWKHPWRZLWQHVV
WKHJURZLQJKRXVLQJFULVLVDQGWKHODFNRIVXSSRUWVDYDLODEOHZKLFKKDVOHGWRLQFUHDVHGKRPHOHVVQHVV
7KH27&6LQVSLUHGPDQ\DERXWZKDWFDQEHGRQHZLWKDFRPPLWWHGJURXSRILQGLYLGXDOVGHVSLWHWKHODFNRI
VXVWDLQDEOHIXQGLQJ$VYROXQWHHUVEHJDQWRUHDOL]HWKHVLJQLÀFDQFHRIWKHKRXVLQJFULVLVLQ16WKH\WRRNXSRQ
WKHPVHOYHVWKHIRUPDWLRQRIDQHZJURXSWDNLQJDFWLRQIRUKRXVLQJLQ1RYD6FRWLD7KH1RYD6FRWLD&RPPRQ
)URQWIRU+RXVLQJZDVIRUPHGWKURXJKVHYHUDOFRPPXQLW\PHHWLQJVDERXWWKHQHHGIRULQFUHDVHGKRXVLQJ
Guest Feedback
'XULQJWKHÀQDOZHHNRIRSHUDWLRQ27&6DVNHGJXHVWVWRÀOORXWHYDOXDWLRQIRUPVRUVLWGRZQDQGWDONWRXV
about their experience at the shelter. Guests were asked what they found most useful about the shelter and
ZKDWFRXOGEHLPSURYHG$OOJXHVWVQRWHGWKHDWPRVSKHUHRIUHVSHFWDQGXQGHUVWDQGLQJZKLFKZDVFUHDWHG
E\VWDIIDQGJXHVWVDOLNH7KHVDIHW\RIWKHVSDFHDORQJZLWKWKHQRQMXGJPHQWDODWWLWXGHRIWKRVHZLWKLQWKH
VKHOWHUZDVOLVWHGDORQJVLGHGLIÀFXOW\DFFHVVLQJRWKHUVKHOWHUVDVNH\UHDVRQVZK\WKH\DFFHVVHGWKH27&6
7ZRVLJQLÀFDQWQHHGVZKLFKZHUHLGHQWLÀHGE\JXHVWVLQFOXGHGWKHQHHGIRUDFFHVVLEOHVKRZHUIDFLOLWLHVDQGD
JUHDWHUYDULHW\RIGURSLQRSWLRQVGXULQJGD\WLPHKRXUV
2QO\JXHVWVFRPSOHWHGIHHGEDFNIRUPVEXWRIWKRVHJDYH27&6DWRSUDWLQJZKHQDVNHGLIWKH\IHOWVDIH
ZLWKLQWKHVSDFH$VZHOODOOJDYHSRVLWLYHUDWLQJVWR27&6ZKHQDVNHGDERXWWKHKHOSIXOQHVVRIVWDIIDQGWKH
PDQQHULQZKLFKJXHVWVZHUHWUHDWHG
6RPHKLJKOLJKWVIURPWKHJXHVWIHHGEDFNIRUPV
´<RXPDGHP\VKRUWWLPHEHLQJKRPHOHVVOHVVIUDQWLFDQGVWUHVVIXO,WRSHQHGP\H\HVWRDQHZZRUOGDQGD
handful of wonderful people.”
´,W·VEHHQDJRRGZLQWHUEHFDXVHRI\RXJX\Vµ
´<RXJX\VDUHKHOSIXODQG,KDYHDORWRIUHVSHFWIRU\RX,KRSHWKLVVXUYH\KHOSV\RXEHRSHQQH[W\HDU<RX
JX\VZRUNZRQGHUV²NHHSXSWKHJRRGZRUNµ
´,QHYHUIHOWRXWRISODFHKHUHOLNHDWRWKHUVKHOWHUV²IHOWFRPIRUWDEOHDQGSHUVRQDEOHµ
Volunteer Feedback
We also received extensive feedback from volunteers about their experience at the shelter. Most noted a posiWLYHH[SHULHQFHDQGDOVRSURYLGHGFRQVWUXFWLYHFULWLFLVPDERXWWKHFKDOOHQJHVWKDWWKH\IDFHG0DQ\FLWHGWKDW
FRPPXQLFDWLRQEHWZHHQVWDIIFRXOGEHLPSURYHG'XHWRWKHODUJHQXPEHURILQGLYLGXDOVLQYROYHGZLWKWKH
shelter, communications between shifts was sometimes problematic. In order to solve this problem, a detailed
FRPPXQLFDWLRQELQGHUQLJKWO\VWDIIPHHWLQJVZLWKWKRVHRQVKLIWZHHNO\HPDLOFRPPXQLFDWLRQVDQGXSGDWHV
Out of the Cold Shelter - Halifax, NS
7
DVZHOODVPRQWKO\YROXQWHHUVWDIIPHHWLQJVZHUHLPSOHPHQWHGLQRUGHUWRHQVXUHHIIHFWLYHFRPPXQLFDWLRQ
2WKHUFKDOOHQJHVWKDWZHUHQRWHGLQFOXGHPDLQWDLQLQJSHUVRQDOERXQGDULHVZLWKJXHVWVDQGFRQVLVWHQF\LQWKH
enforcement of policy.
2QHRIWKHELJJHVWFKDOOHQJHVWKDWZDVEURXJKWXSE\PDQ\YROXQWHHUVZDVWKHGLIÀFXOW\RIWXUQLQJSHRSOH
DZD\ZKHQWKHVKHOWHUZDVDWFDSDFLW\,QWKHVHLQVWDQFHVVWDIIZRXOGWU\WRKHOSSHRSOHÀQGDFFRPPRGDWLRQV
at other shelters or help them with transportation to another safe space, but more often than not these options
ZHUHQRWVXFFHVVIXO3HRSOHZHUHJLYHQIRRGWRHDWZDUPFORWKHVDEODQNHWDQGWKHQVHQWRXWWRWKHVWUHHWV
6WDIIZHUHYHU\ZRUULHGDERXWWKHVDIHW\RIWKHVHLQGLYLGXDOV7KLVZDVFLWHGDVWKHQXPEHURQHQHJDWLYHH[SHULHQFHYROXQWHHULQJDWWKH27&62QHYROXQWHHUFRPPHQWHG´7KHKDUGHVWSDUWRIZRUNLQJDWWKHVKHOWHULVWXUQLQJSHRSOHDZD\ZKHQZHDUHIXOO,WLVKDUGWRJLYHWKDWQHZVDQGWRNQRZWKHUHVRPHWLPHVDUHSHRSOHZLWKQR
SODFHWRJRRQFROGQLJKWVGHVSLWHRXUEHVWHIIRUWVWRÀQGWKHPVKHOWHUHOVHZKHUHµ$QRWKHUYROXQWHHUFLWHGWKDW
WKHPRVWFKDOOHQJLQJSDUWRIZRUNLQJDWWKHVKHOWHUZDV´>V@HHLQJWKH\RXWKLQWKHVKHOWHUDQGZRQGHULQJKRZ
we as a society have let them down.”
7KHUHZDVDOVRDORWRISRVLWLYHIHHGEDFNDERXWYROXQWHHULQJDWWKHVKHOWHU&RPPHQWVLQFOXGH
´,WZDVQLFHKRZZHDSSURDFKHGHDFKVLWXDWLRQLQGLYLGXDOO\HYHQLIDWWKHWLPHLWPD\KDYHVRPHWLPHVFDXVHG
FRQIXVLRQLWVHHPHGWRFUHDWHDQDWPRVSKHUHZKLFKWKHJXHVWVDSSUHFLDWHGZLWKWKHSRVVLELOLW\RIIRVWHULQJ
self-worth”
´2QHRIWKHPRVWSRVLWLYHWKLQJVZDVOHDUQLQJDERXWKRXVLQJDQGKRPHOHVVQHVVLVVXHVIURPGLIIHUHQWSHUVSHFtives.”
´7KHVKHOWHULVDYHU\VXSSRUWLYHHQYLURQPHQWLQZKLFKWRYROXQWHHUDQGHYHU\RQHZDVYHU\ZHOFRPLQJDQG
RSHQWRTXHVWLRQV,GLGQRWIHHOHPEDUUDVVHGZKHQ,ZDVXQIDPLOLDUZLWKVRPHWKLQJµ
´7KLVZDVDZRQGHUIXOYROXQWHHUH[SHULHQFH,·YHEHHQDFWLYHO\LQYROYHGLQYROXQWHHUZRUNIRURYHUDTXDUWHURID
FHQWXU\DQGWKLVZDVRQHRIWKHEHVWH[SHULHQFHVERWKEHFDXVHWKHVKHOWHULVVRREYLRXVO\SURYLGLQJDQHHGHG
VHUYLFHDQGEHFDXVHLWZDVHYLGHQWWKDWDJUHDWGHDORIZRUNZHQWLQWRRUJDQL]DWLRQDQGPDQDJHPHQWµ
´9ROXQWHHULQJDWWKHVKHOWHUZDVP\ÀUVWFORVHH[SRVXUHWRSHRSOHZKRLGHQWLI\DVKRPHOHVVLWEURNHGRZQ
VRPHWDERRVRIZKDWLWPHDQVWREHZLWKRXWDKRPHDOORZLQJPHWREHPRUHFRPIRUWDEOHWRKDYHHPSDWK\IRU
LQGLYLGXDOVLWXDWLRQVZLWKRXWIHHOLQJSLW\µ
´7KHPRVWSRVLWLYHSDUWRIYROXQWHHULQJDWWKHVKHOWHUZDVWKHVHQVHRIFRPPXQLW\EHORQJLQJFRPPRQSXUSRVHDQGVKDULQJDODXJKZLWKWKHGLIIHUHQWJXHVWVµ
´)LUVWO\,DSSODXGWKHVWDIIIRUWUHDWLQJWKHJXHVWVZLWKJUHDWUHVSHFWDQGNLQGQHVV,WLVDJUHDWDQGQHHGHG
VHUYLFH(YHU\RQHZDVVRKHOSIXODQGVXSSRUWLYH,WKRURXJKO\HQMR\HGHYHU\PLQXWH,ZRUNHGDQG,DPORRNLQJ
IRUZDUGWRFRPLQJEDFNLQWKHIDOOµ
´,WZDVDJUHDWRSSRUWXQLW\WRLQWHUDFWZLWKWKHPDQ\JUHDWYROXQWHHUVDQGJXHVWVDQGOHDUQÀUVWKDQGDERXWWKH
many different social issues that lead them to the shelter door.”
´,IHOWWKDWRYHUDOOWKHUHZDVDQDWPRVSKHUHRIUHVSHFWIRUJXHVWVDQGUHVSHFWDPRQJYROXQWHHUV,VDZSRWHQWLDOO\WHQVHVLWXDWLRQVGLIIXVHGWKURXJKNLQGQHVVFRXUWHV\DQGDVHQVHRIKXPRXU,VDZJRRGOLDLVRQZLWK
RWKHURUJDQL]DWLRQVVXFKDV026+DQG+DOLID[+RXVLQJ+HOS$ERYHDOODQGPRVWLPSRUWDQWO\RIDOOWKHVKHOWHU
provided exactly that: shelter for some of those in our community who, unfortunately, do not have their own
KRXVLQJµ
´7KHPRVWSRVLWLYHWKLQJZDVSURYLGLQJWKHJXHVWVZLWKWKHGLJQLW\RIDSODFHWRVWD\µ
Out of the Cold Shelter - Halifax, NS
8
Funding
7KH27&6RSHUDWHGZLWKRXWJRYHUQPHQWIXQGLQJ$IXQGLQJDSSOLFDWLRQWKURXJKWKH+RPHOHVVQHVV3DUWQHULQJ
6WUDWHJ\D)HGHUDOSURJUDPZDVQRWDSSURYHG5HTXHVWVWRWKH3URYLQFLDO'HSDUWPHQWRI&RPPXQLW\6HUYLFHV
'&6IRUVXSSRUWKDYHDOVRQRWEHHQDSSURYHG'&6KDVLQGLFDWHGWKDWWKH\GRQRWEHOLHYHWKHUHLVDQHHGIRU
DQDOWHUQDWLYHVKHOWHUGHVSLWHFDSDFLW\LVVXHVDWRWKHUVKHOWHUVDQGWKHJURZLQJQXPEHURISHRSOHZKRGRQRW
feel able access other shelters even when there is space.
7KH27&6UHOLHGRQLQGLYLGXDOGRQDWLRQVDQGJUDQWVWRIXQGWKHRSHUDWLRQRIWKHVKHOWHU7KH27&6DQGRWKHU
VXSSRUWLYHJURXSVKHOGIXQGUDLVHUVWRKHOSIXQGWKHVKHOWHU7KHVKHOWHUUDQRQDVKRHVWULQJEXGJHWWKDWUHOLHG
KHDYLO\RQWKHVXSSRUWRIWKHFRPPXQLW\ERWKÀQDQFLDOO\DQGPDWHULDOO\6WDIÀQJZDVRQHRIWKHJUHDWHVWFRVWV
7KHUHZHUHÀYHSDLGVWDIIPHPEHUVDQGRYHURQHKXQGUHGYROXQWHHUVWDII)XQGLQJIRUWKUHHRIWKHVWDIISRVLWLRQVZDVSURYLGHGWKURXJKWKH-RE&UHDWLRQ3DUWQHUVKLSSURJUDPDQHPSOR\PHQWSURJUDPIRULQGLYLGXDOV
ZKRKDYHUHFHQWO\UHFHLYHG(PSOR\PHQW,QVXUDQFHDQGZKRZHUHIDFLQJEDUULHUVWRHPSOR\PHQWLQWKHLUÀHOGRI
work.
:KLOHWKH27&6GLGUHFHLYHJHQHURXVGRQDWLRQVDQGUHFHLYHGVHYHUDOJUDQWVWKHUHZDVVWLOOJUHDWXQFHUWDLQW\
DERXWZKHWKHUWKH27&6ZRXOGEHDEOHWRFRYHUDOORIWKHFRVWVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKRSHUDWLQJDVKHOWHULQFOXGLQJ
FHOOSKRQHVDODUPV\VWHPODXQGU\IRRGFRVWVWD[LFKLWVIRUHPHUJHQFLHVHWF,WZDVQRWXQWLO)HEUXDU\
WKDWHQRXJKPRQH\ZDVUDLVHGWRKLUHDQDGGLWLRQDOWZRVWDIIPHPEHUVWRZRUNWKHRYHUQLJKWVKLIWVWKDWZHUH
FKDOOHQJLQJWRÀOOZLWKYROXQWHHUVWDII,QWKHIXWXUHLWZRXOGEHLGHDOWREHDEOHWRIRFXVDOORIRXUHQHUJ\RQ
SURYLGLQJHIIHFWLYHVHUYLFHVUDWKHUWKDQVSHQGDODUJHSRUWLRQRIWLPHDQGHQHUJ\WRZDUGVIXQGUDLVLQJ6RPH
IRUPRIVXVWDLQDEOHIXQGLQJLVQHFHVVDU\WRHQVXUHFRQWLQXHGRSHUDWLRQZLWKRXWWKHVWUDLQRIFRQVWDQWIXQGUDLVLQJDQGÀQDQFLDOLQVHFXULW\
27&6ZRXOGOLNHWRWKDQNWKHIROORZLQJRUJDQL]DWLRQVIRUÀQDQFLDOVXSSRUW
United Church of Canada Foundation
Saint David’s Church of Canada
Halifax Foundation
0D]RQ&DQDGD
'DUWPRXWK&RPPXQLW\+HDOWK%RDUG
Sisters of Charity
Sisters of Saint Martha’s
Operating Budget
The OTCS operated with expenses of ~$40,000:
)LQDQFLDOGRQDWLRQVDQGJUDQWVWRWDOOHGa
7KHUHPDLQGHURIWKHIXQGVUDLVHGLQWKHVHDVRQZLOOJRWRZDUGVVWDUWXSFRVWVIRUQH[WVHDVRQ
“The hardest part of working at the shelter is turning people away when we are full. It is
hard to give that news and to know there sometimes are people with no place to go on cold
nights despite our best efforts to find them shelter elsewhere.”
-a volunteer
Out of the Cold Shelter - Halifax, NS
9
Statistics
5HFRJQL]LQJWKDWODFNRIFDSDFLW\LVRQO\RQHDPRQJVWDQXPEHURIUHDVRQVZK\LQGLYLGXDOVPD\QRWEHDEOHWR
DFFHVVVKHOWHUV27&6DWWHPSWHGWRJDWKHULQIRUPDWLRQGXULQJHDFKLQWDNHWRGHWHUPLQHUHDVRQVZK\JXHVWVDFcessed OTCS as opposed to other spaces.
6RPHRIWKHFRPPHQWVWKDWZHUHUHFRUGHGGXULQJWKHLQWDNHSURFHVVSUHVHQWHGQXPHURXVUHDVRQVDVWRZK\
JXHVWVFRXOGQRWDFFHVVRWKHUVSDFHVLQFOXGLQJDQ[LHW\GLVRUGHUVWKDWGLGQRWDOORZWKHPWRUHPDLQLQFURZGHG
FRQGLWLRQVH[LVWLQJFRQÁLFWVZLWKJXHVWVVWD\LQJDWDQRWKHUVKHOWHUEHLQJEDUUHGIURPRWKHUVKHOWHUVDQHHGWR
EHDZD\IURPGUXJFRQWDFWVDQGRWKHUVKHOWHUVHVSHFLDOO\3KRHQL[<RXWK6KHOWHUEHLQJIXOO:KLOHWKHUHZHUH
VRPHPDOHJXHVWVZKRZHUHWHFKQLFDOO\DOORZHGWRDFFHVV073DQGKDGVWD\HGWKHUHLQWKHSDVWPDQ\VWDWHG
WKDWWKH\GLGQRWIHHOFRPIRUWDEOHWKHUHGXHWRDQ[LHW\DVDUHVXOWRIFURZGLQJRUGLGQRWIHHOVDIHFLWLQJLQFUHDVHGWKHIWDQGGUXJDFWLYLW\GXHWRWKHKLJKQXPEHUVRISHRSOHVWD\LQJDWWKHVKHOWHU
<RXWKLQSDUWLFXODUIDFHGFKDOOHQJHVDFFHVVLQJVXLWDEOHVKHOWHUVSDFHV0DQ\\RXWKZHUHEDUUHGRUGLVFKDUJHG
IURP3KRHQL[DQGVWLOORWKHUVFRXOGQRWDFFHVVWKHVKHOWHUEHFDXVHLWZDVDWFDSDFLW\7KH\UHSRUWHGIHHOLQJ
XQFRPIRUWDEOHJRLQJWR0HWUR7XUQLQJ3RLQWGXHWRWKHLU\RXQJDJHDQGRUWKHKLJKQXPEHURILQGLYLGXDOV
XQNQRZQWRWKHPDFFHVVLQJ0737KH6DOYDWLRQ$UP\ZDVQRWDQRSWLRQIRUPDQ\RIRXU\RXWKDVWKH\GLGQRW
PHHWWKHPLQLPXPDJHUHTXLUHPHQWVRIWKH6$:KHQQRWDFFHVVLQJWKH2XWRIWKH&ROG6KHOWHU\RXWKUHSRUWHG
VOHHSLQJRXWVLGHLQEDQNPDFKLQHVVOHHSLQJLQVWRUDJHFORVHWVRUDEDQGRQHGVWRUDJHVKHGVRUZDQGHULQJWKH
streets.
7KHLQFOXVLYHDWPRVSKHUHZKLFK27&6VRXJKWWRSURYLGHWRDOOLQGLYLGXDOVVHHNLQJVKHOWHUUHVXOWHGLQWKHVSDFH
RSHQLQJXSWRDQXPEHURIFOLHQWJURXSVQRWFXUUHQWO\VHUYHGZLWKLQWKH+502QHSHUVRQZKRLGHQWLÀHGDV
WUDQVJHQGHUHGDFFHVVHGWKHVKHOWHUDVZHOODVDQRWKHUZKRFKRVHQRWWRGHÀQHWKHLUJHQGHU2YHUWKHFRXUVH
of the winter, there were approximately 200 stays by couples who did not wish to be separated. Finally, there
ZHUHDOVRQLJKWVWKDWDFFRPPRGDWHGGRJV,QHDFKRIWKHVHLQVWDQFHVZHUHWKH27&6QRWLQRSHUDWLRQLW
LVKLJKO\OLNHO\WKDWWKHVHLQGLYLGXDOVZRXOGKDYHIRXQGWKHPVHOYHVZLWKRXWVKHOWHU
1XPEHUVDWDJODQFH
‡ GLIIHUHQWLQGLYLGXDOVDFFHVVHG27&6IRUDWRWDORIRYHUQLJKWVWD\V
‡ 'XULQJWKHSHULRGWKDWWKHVKHOWHUZDVLQRSHUDWLRQLWKDGDQRFFXSDQF\UDWHRI7KHPRQWKRI
0DUFKZDVDSDUWLFXODUO\EXV\PRQWKRFFXSDQF\UDWHZLWKWKHVKHOWHUUHFRUGLQJDQDGGLWLRQDO
LQWDNHVUHÁHFWLQJDKLJKQXPEHURIUHIHUUDOVRXWWRRWKHUVKHOWHUV
‡ 27&6ZDVDWFDSDFLW\RIWKHWLPH²ZKHQORRNLQJDWQLJKWVZKHUHZHKDGRQO\RIWKHEHGVRFFXSLHGWKLVQXPEHULQFUHDVHVWR7KLVLVZRUWK\RIQRWHDVWKHUHZHUHVHYHUDOLQVWDQFHVZKHUHFRXSOHVZKRZHUHQRWZLOOLQJWREHVHSDUDWHGGLGQRWDFFHVVDEHGDVWKHUHZDVRQO\WKHRQHDYDLODEOH
‡ $YHUDJHQXPEHURIFOLHQWVZKRVWD\HGHDFKQLJKW²
‡ <RXWKEHWZHHQWKHDJHVRIDQGDFFRXQWHGIRULQGLYLGXDOVRIWKHWRWDOVWD\VDW27&62I
WKDWQXPEHULQGLYLGXDOVRIWKHWRWDOVWD\VE\\RXWKZHUHE\ZRPHQ
‡ $SSUR[LPDWHO\SHRSOHKDGWREHWXUQHGDZD\RYHUWKHFRXUVHRIWKHZLQWHU1RWHWKDWWKLVLVDFRQVHUYDWLYHHVWLPDWHEDVHGRQUHFRUGVFRYHULQJWKHPRQWKVRI)HEUXDU\²$SULODQGGRHVQRWFRYHUWKHPRQWKV
RI1RYHPEHU²-DQXDU\GXHWRFKDQJHVLQRXUUHFRUGNHHSLQJSURFHGXUHV
Out of the Cold Shelter - Halifax, NS
10
Case Reports
'XULQJRXULQWDNHSURFHVVJXHVWVZHUHDVNHGZKHUHWKH\VOHSWWKHQLJKWEHIRUHLIWKH\KDGDQRWKHUVDIHVSDFH
WRJRDQGZKHWKHUWKH\ZHUHDEOHWRDFFHVVRWKHUVKHOWHUV7KHSXUSRVHRIWKHLQWDNHTXHVWLRQVZDVWREHDEOH
WRGLUHFWSHRSOHWRWKHPRVWDSSURSULDWHVKHOWHUDQGKHOSSHRSOHOLQNXSZLWKSDUWQHULQJRUJDQL]DWLRQVIRUDVVLVWDQFH,QDGGLWLRQWRWKHLQWDNHTXHVWLRQVPRVWFRQYHUVDWLRQVDERXWHDFKLQGLYLGXDO·VVLWXDWLRQKDSSHQHG
LQIRUPDOO\WKURXJKRXWWKHQLJKWZKHQVWDIIKDGDQRSSRUWXQLW\WRVLWDQGKDYHPRUHLQGHSWKFRQYHUVDWLRQV
ZLWKSHRSOHDFFHVVLQJWKHVKHOWHU7KLVZDVSRVVLEOHEHFDXVHRIWKHKLJKQXPEHURIVWDIIDQGWKHVPDOODWPRVSKHUHRIWKHVKHOWHU0RVWSHRSOHDFFHVVLQJWKHVKHOWHUUHSRUWHGWKDWWKH\GLGQRWKDYHDQ\RWKHUDOWHUQDWLYHV
DQGPDQ\UHSRUWHGWKDWWKH\GLGQRWIHHOFRPIRUWDEOHDFFHVVLQJRWKHUVKHOWHUV
There were many examples of people who accessed the Out of the Cold Shelter who had no other options of
ZKHUHWKH\FRXOGVWD\IRUWKHQLJKW2XWOLQHGEHORZDUHVHYHUDOFDVHH[DPSOHVRISHRSOHZKRZHUHQRWDEOHWR
DFFHVVWKHH[LVWLQJVKHOWHUV\VWHPZKRUHOLHGRQWKH27&6WKLVZLQWHU$OVRGHWDLOHGEHORZWKHUHZHUHVHYHUDO
SHRSOHZKRFRXOGQRWDFFHVVHLWKHUWKHH[LVWLQJVKHOWHUV\VWHPRUWKH27&6GXHWRFRPSOH[PHQWDODQGSK\VLFDOKHDOWKQHHGVWKDWFRXOGQRWEHDFFRPPRGDWHGE\DVKHOWHU7KHVHFDVHVKLJKOLJKWWKHVRPHRIWKHVWDUNHVW
JDSVLQVHUYLFHVLQWKH+50ZKHUHWKHPRVWYXOQHUDEOHLQGLYLGXDOVDUHIDOOLQJWKURXJKWKHFUDFNV
7KHLQIRUPDWLRQLQWKHIROORZLQJFDVHVWXGLHVKDVEHHQDOWHUHGWRSURWHFWSULYDF\
,QGLYLGXDOZKRUHTXLUHGSHUVRQDOFDUH
$PDQLQKLVODWHVDUULYHGZLWKSROLFHHVFRUWWRWKH27&6RQHHYHQLQJZLWKQRZKHUHHOVHWRJR+HKDGERWK
PHQWDODQGSK\VLFDOGLVDELOLWLHVUHODWLQJWRDQDFFLGHQWWKDWKHKDGKDGHDUOLHULQOLIHZKLFKKDGOHIWKLPZLWK
EUDLQGDPDJH+HKDGEHHQNLFNHGRXWRID6PDOO2SWLRQVKRPHIRUGULQNLQJDQGEHKDYLRXUDOLVVXHV+LVÀUVW
VWRSKDGEHHQ0HWUR7XUQLQJ3RLQW073073FRXOGQRWDFFRPPRGDWHKLPEHFDXVHWKH\ZHUHIXOOEHFDXVH
RIKLVKLJKQHHGV6DOYDWLRQ$UP\ZDVQRWDQRSWLRQEHFDXVHKHZDVLQDQLQWR[LFDWHGVWDWH073UHIHUUHGKLP
WRWKH27&6DQGGLUHFWHGSROLFHWRKHOSKLPJHWWKHUHVDIHO\27&6VKHOWHUHGKLPIRURQHQLJKW+HQHHGHG
SHUVRQDOFDUHLQRUGHUWRPRYHDURXQGDQGSHUIRUPEDVLFWDVNVOLNHJRLQJWRWKHZDVKURRPDQGFKDQJLQJKLPVHOI+HZDVDOVRSURQHWRVHYHUHVHL]XUHV$GGLWLRQDOO\KLVFRJQLWLYHIXQFWLRQVZHUHLPSDLUHGFDXVLQJKLPWR
PDNHLQDSSURSULDWHDQGKRVWLOHFRPPHQWVWRRWKHUJXHVWVZKLFKSXWKLVRZQVDIHW\DWULVN+HQHHGHGDVWDII
member by his side at all times to help him with his physical needs as well as mediate between him and the
RWKHUJXHVWV$IWHURQHQLJKWDWWKH27&6WKHRUJDQL]LQJWHDPVWUDWHJL]HGDERXWKRZWREHVWVXSSRUWKLPDQG
refer him to the most appropriate service or shelter. Unfortunately, the OTCS could not accommodate his need
for 1:1 personal care due to the fact that the OTCS was staffed mostly by volunteers and there were only 2 staff
GXULQJWKHRYHUQLJKWVKLIWIRUJXHVWV+HQHHGHGDYHU\KLJKOHYHORIFDUHWKDWWKH27&6GLGQRWIHHOTXDOLÀHG
to provide safely.
:HZHUHVKRFNHGWKDWVRPHRQHZKRKDGVXFKKLJKQHHGVDQGZKRZDVVRYXOQHUDEOHWRDFFLGHQWRUDWWDFNKDG
EHHQNLFNHGRXWRQWRWKHVWUHHWVE\D6PDOO2SWLRQV+RPHZLWKRXWIRUPLQJDQDOWHUQDWLYHSODQ7KHSURIHVVLRQDOVXSSRUWVWDIIDWWKH27&6ZRUNHGWKURXJKWKHGD\WRPHGLDWHZLWKWKH6PDOO2SWLRQVKRPHDQGWRDWWHPSW
Out of the Cold Shelter - Halifax, NS
11
WRZRUNZLWKKLV'&6FDVHZRUNHULQRUGHUWRÀQGDVROXWLRQ1HLWKHUSDUWLHVZHUHZLOOLQJRUDEOHWRSURYLGHDQ\
VHUYLFHVERWKVXJJHVWLQJWKDWKHFDOOVRPHRQHHOVHIRUKHOS,WDSSHDUHGWKDWHYHU\RQHZDVSDVVLQJKLPRII
WRVRPHRQHHOVHZLWKQRRQHZDQWLQJWRWDNHUHVSRQVLELOLW\IRUDVVLVWLQJWKLVPDQ/HIWZLWKQRSODFHWROLYHRU
HYHQWRVOHHSKLVRQO\RSWLRQVZHUHVLWWLQJLQWKHHPHUJHQF\ZDLWLQJURRPDWWKHKRVSLWDODOOQLJKWRUEHLQJ
SLFNHGXSE\SROLFHWRVSHQGWKHQLJKWLQWKHFHOOV
7KLVPDQ·VVWRU\LVDGLVKHDUWHQLQJH[DPSOHRIGUDPDWLFJDSVDQGWKHIDLOXUHRIRXUVRFLDOVHUYLFHV\VWHPIRUWKH
people who need the most support. The Small Options Home, the Department of Community Services, and the
Health-care system should have all been there for him to help provide a solution, but they were not. Had DCS
SURYLGHGUHVRXUFHVIRUVRPHZKHUHIRUKLPWRVWD\VKRUWWHUPDQGKDGWKHUHEHHQVXSSRUWLYHKRXVLQJDYDLODEOH
WKDWFRXOGSURYLGHSHUVRQDOFDUHWKLVPDQZRXOGQRWKDYHKDGWRJRWKURXJKVXFKDWUDXPDWLFH[SHULHQFH
RIEHLQJWRVVHGIURPRQHVHUYLFHWRWKHQH[WDQGXOWLPDWHO\DEDQGRQHG
/RFNHGRXWRUXQVDIHKRXVLQJFRQGLWLRQV
7KHUHZHUHVHYHUDOH[DPSOHVRISHRSOHZKRKDGWKHLURZQKRXVLQJEXWZKRZHUHQRWDEOHWRVWD\WKHUHHLWKHU
EHFDXVHWKH\ZHUHORFNHGRXWRUEHFDXVHRIXQVDIHKRXVLQJFRQGLWLRQV7KHVHSHRSOHFDPHWRWKH27&6IRUD
SODFHWRVWD\IRUDQLJKWDQGWRJHWFRQQHFWHGWRDVXSSRUWV\VWHPZKRFRXOGKHOSWKHPQDYLJDWHWKHLUKRXVLQJ
issues.
2QHPDQKDGORVWKLVNH\VDQGKDGDFRQÁLFWZLWKKLVODQGORUGVRZDVDIUDLGWRDVNIRUDQRWKHUFRS\+HFDPH
WRWKH27&6ZKHQKHZDVQRWDEOHWRJHWLQWRKLVKRPH+DOLID[+RXVLQJ+HOSRIIHUHGWRKHOSKLPDSSURDFKKLV
ODQGORUGIRUDQHZFRS\DQGVWUDWHJL]HKRZKHFRXOGSUHYHQWORVLQJKLVNH\VLQWKHIXWXUH
$ZRPDQFDPHWRWKHVKHOWHUEHFDXVHVKHZDVIHHOLQJWKUHDWHQHGE\DQRWKHUWHQDQWLQKHUEXLOGLQJDQGGLG
QRWIHHOVDIHVWD\LQJWKHUH$PHPEHURIWKHRUJDQL]LQJFRPPLWWHHZKRZDVD&RPPXQLW\6XSSRUW:RUNHUZLWK
013+$ZRUNHGZLWKWKLVZRPDQWKHQH[WGD\WRKHOSKHUDSSURDFKKHUODQGORUGDQGVRUWRXWKHUFRQÁLFWZLWK
WKHRWKHUWHQDQW:LWKWKLVDVVLVWDQFHVKHUHVROYHGWKHLVVXHDQGZDVDEOHWRVWD\LQKHURZQKRPHDJDLQ
2QHPDQZDVOLYLQJLQDURRPLQJKRXVHWKDWZDVLQIHVWHGZLWKEHGEXJV+HFRXOGQRWVWD\WKHUHXQWLOWKHEHG
EXJVKDGEHHQGHDOWZLWKEXWKLVODQGORUGZDVLQDFWLYHRQWKHLVVXH$JDLQZLWKDGYRFDF\IURPWKHVKHOWHU
RUJDQL]LQJFRPPLWWHHWRKHOSQHJRWLDWHZLWKKLVODQGORUGWKHLVVXHZDVUHVROYHG
$JHLQDSSURSULDWHVSDFHV
16-year-old Kalem stayed at the Out of the Cold shelter off and on for over a month. Without a stable support
V\VWHPDWKRPHVLQFHWKHDJHRIWZR.DOHPOHDUQHGWRUHO\RQRQO\KLPVHOI+HIRXQGKLPVHOILQIRVWHUFDUHIRU
PXFKRIKLVFKLOGKRRG$IWHUH[SHULHQFLQJXQLPDJLQDEOHWUDXPDDQGDEXVHKHHQGHGXSLQDJURXSKRPHDQG
VHFXUHFDUHIDFLOLW\DWWKHDJHRI
.DOHPWDNHVQRPHGLFDWLRQDQGKDVQRPHGLFDOGLDJQRVHVEXWVHOILGHQWLÀHVDVKDYLQJDWWHQWLRQGHÀFLWGLVRUGHU
6WDIIDWWKH2XWRIWKH&ROG6KHOWHUQRWLFHGKLPDVERWKDQLQVWLJDWRURIFRQÁLFWDQGDUDWLRQDODQGJHQXLQHVXSSRUWHURIIHOORZVKHOWHUJXHVWV.DOHP·VVWD\VZLWK27&6ZHUHVSRUDGLFDVKHSUHIHUUHGWREHDWWKH\RXWKVKHOWHU
LQWKHFLW\$IWHUJHWWLQJLQWURXEOHWKHUHGXHWRKLVGLIÀFXOW\ZLWKIRFXVLQJDQGFRQWUROOLQJKLVXQGHUVWDQGDEOH
DQJHUVXUURXQGLQJKLVVLWXDWLRQKHZDVWLPHGRXWVHYHUDOWLPHV6HYHUDORIWKHVHWLPHVZHUHHYHQLQDURZ$W
DJH.DOHPZDVH[SRVHGWRVFHQHVDQGH[SHULHQFHVLQWKHVKHOWHUV\VWHPWKDWPRVWDGXOWVÀQGGLVWXUELQJ
+LVKRSHZDVWRKDYHPRUHWKDQRQHRSWLRQIRUVKHOWHUDVD\RXWKEXWRWKHUWKDQWKHRQHHPHUJHQF\VKHOWHU
for youth that he had been timed out of for over two weeks, there were only adult facilities available.
.DOHPLVQRZOLYLQJURXJKZLWKVHYHUDOIHOORZ\RXWKDQGDWDJHKHKDVDOUHDG\FRPHWRPDQ\GHDGHQGV
:HUHWKHUHPRUHRSWLRQVIRU\RXWKRUDOLPLWDWLRQRIWKHOHQJWKRIWLPHRXWVIRUWKRVHZLWKQRRWKHUSODFHVWR
JR.DOHPPD\IHHOPRUHVHFXUHDQGVXSSRUWHGZKLFKZRXOGKHOSKLPQDYLJDWHWKHRWKHUFKDOOHQJHVSUHVHQWLQ
his life.
Out of the Cold Shelter - Halifax, NS
21
Mental illness barriers to shelters
Mr. Roy came to the Out of the Cold shelter with a police escort. He had been timed-out of all other shelters
IRUPHQLQWKHFLW\GXHWRKLVXQPDQDJHGVFKL]RSKUHQLD0U5R\·VLOOQHVVSURKLELWHGKLPIURPVXVWDLQLQJVWDEOH
KRXVLQJDQGNHSWKLPLQDSODFHZKHUHGHOXVLRQVDQGKDOOXFLQDWLRQVZHUHRIWHQSUHVHQW7KLVEHFDPHDFRPSOH[
VLWXDWLRQIRUERWKVWDIIDQGJXHVWVDWWKHVKHOWHU7KHUHIRUH0U5R\ZDVXQDEOHWRFRRUGLQDWHKLVRZQVXSSRUW
V\VWHPLQWKHZHERIVHUYLFHVDVKLVPHQWDOLOOQHVVZDVGHELOLWDWLQJRQPDQ\OHYHOV+HZDVDOVRXQDEOHWRDFFHVV
VXSSRUWWKURXJKWKHLQSDWLHQWZDUGDWWKHKRVSLWDO
7KURXJKRXWWKHVHYHUDOZHHNVWKDW0U5R\UHVLGHGDWWKHVKHOWHUVWDIIEHFDPHDGYRFDWHVRQKLVEHKDOIDQG
acted as a liaison between the hospital, community mental health workers, medical clinic staff and the hospital.
7KURXJKWKLVFRRUGLQDWLRQKHZDVDGPLWWHGWRWKHKRVSLWDOLQRUGHUWRDWWHPSWWRVWDELOL]HKLVFRQGLWLRQ$IWHU
KLVKRVSLWDOVWD\KHZDVUHOHDVHGEDFNLQWRWKHVKHOWHUV\VWHPZKHUHKHFRQWLQXHGWRKDYHFRQÁLFWLQDJURXS
VHWWLQJ
0U5R\ZDVDUUHVWHGE\WKHSROLFHDQGKDVVWLOOQRWIRXQGDGHTXDWHRUDSSURSULDWHVXSSRUW
$GGLFWLRQDQGFKURQLFLOOQHVV
$PDQLQKLVODWHWKLUWLHV%RESUHVHQWHGDWWKHVKHOWHUGXULQJLWVÀUVWPRQWKRIRSHQLQJDQGZDVDUHJXODU
JXHVWDWWKHVKHOWHUXQWLOODWH0DUFKZKHQKHZDVÀQDOO\FRQQHFWHGZLWKDGGLFWLRQVHUYLFHV$Q,9GUXJXVHU
%REDOVRVXIIHUHGIURPDNLGQH\GLVRUGHUZKLFKUHTXLUHGKLPWRPDNHUHJXODUWULSVWRWKHHPHUJHQF\URRPLQ
RUGHUWRGHDOZLWKWKHHIIHFWVRIKLVGLVHDVH²VHYHUHEORDWLQJFDXVHGE\DGLIÀFXOW\LQSDVVLQJXULQHDQGWKHVHYHUHSDLQFDXVHGE\NLGQH\VWRQHV%H\RQGWKHVHVLJQLÀFDQWKHDOWKSUREOHPV%REDOVRVHOILGHQWLÀHGDVKDYLQJ
DQDQ[LHW\GLVRUGHUZKLFKSUHYHQWHGKLPIURPDFFHVVLQJWKHODUJHUPHQ·VVKHOWHUVLQWKHFLW\DQGZKLFKVRPHWLPHVOHGKLPWRVXLFLGDOWKRXJKWV
7KHUHZHUHQXPHURXVQLJKWVZKHQ%REDUULYHGDIWHUKDYLQJLQMHFWHGKLV,9PHGV2QWKHVHQLJKWV%REZDV
EDUHO\OXFLGDQGRQFHLQVLGHTXLFNO\ZHQWWRVOHHSZLWKUHJXODUPRQLWRULQJRIKLVFRQGLWLRQWDNLQJSODFHE\VKHOWHUVWDII$VZHOOWKHUHZHUHUHSHDWHGHYHQLQJVZKHQ%REZDVUHTXLUHGWRWUDYHOWRWKHHPHUJHQF\URRPGXHWR
KLVNLGQH\GLVRUGHU8QIRUWXQDWHO\GXHWRWKHPDQGDWHRIWKH27&6DÀUVWFRPHÀUVWVHUYHHPHUJHQF\IDFLOLW\
ZHZHUHQRWDEOHWRKROG%RE·VEHGRQWKHVHRFFDVLRQVUHVXOWLQJLQVLJQLÀFDQWDPRXQWVRIDGGLWLRQDOVWUHVVRQ
%REGXHWRKLVKDYLQJSRWHQWLDOO\ORVWDEHGIRUWKHQLJKW7KHFRPELQDWLRQRI,9GUXJXVHFKURQLFSDLQDQG
WKHDQ[LHWLHVFDXVHGE\EHLQJKRPHOHVVZHUHDOOUHJXODUO\LGHQWLÀHGE\%REDVFDXVLQJKLPVLJQLÀFDQWPHQWDO
KHDOWKSUREOHPV%RE·VFRQGLWLRQZRUVHQHGVLJQLÀFDQWO\IROORZLQJDQRIIVLWHRYHUGRVHLQ0DUFKDQGKHEHJDQ
WRVHHNRSWLRQVE\VSHDNLQJZLWKVKHOWHUVWDII
,QODWH0DUFK%REZDVFRQQHFWHGZLWKDGGLFWLRQVHUYLFHV,QGLFDWLQJDSUHIHUHQFHWRDFFHVVWKHVHVHUYLFHV
RXWVLGHWKHFLW\VRDVWRDYRLGKLVXVXDOWULJJHUVWRGUXJXVH%REZDVDEOHWRWUDYHOWRGHWR[ZLWKDSSURSULDWH
FORWKLQJDQGVXSSRUWVIROORZLQJDPHHWLQJZLWKRQFDOOVKHOWHUVWDIIZKLFKPDQDJHGWRPDNHDOOQHFHVVDU\DUUDQJHPHQWVIRUKLP
Couple not wanting to separate
6DQGUDDQG0DUWLQERWKLQWKHLUHDUO\WZHQWLHVKDGEHHQOLYLQJLQDQDSDUWPHQWWRJHWKHUDQGVXSSRUWLQJ
WKHPVHOYHVZLWK0DUWLQ·VSD\FKHTXHDV6DQGUDVHDUFKHGIRUDMRE0DUWLQZDVODLGRIIDQGVXGGHQO\XQDEOHWR
SD\WKHPRQWK·VUHQWWKHLUODQGORUGHYLFWHGWKHP,QWKHPLGVWRIDOOWKLVWKHFRXSOHIRXQGRXW6DQGUDZDVSUHJQDQW7KH\WULHGDFFHVVLQJVHSDUDWHVKHOWHUVEXWKDWHGEHLQJDSDUWHVSHFLDOO\VLQFHWKLVZDVZKHQWKH\QHHGHG
each other’s support most. Sandra and Martin found out about the Out of the Cold shelter and came because
FRXSOHVFRXOGDFFHVVWRJHWKHU
1RZWKDWWKH\KDGIRXQGDVKHOWHUWKDWWKH\IHOWFRPIRUWDEOHZLWKWKH\FRXOGZRUNRQRWKHUJRDOV6DQGUDDQG Martin went to the Department of Community Services to apply for income assistance and discovered that
Out of the Cold Shelter - Halifax, NS
13
they needed a stable address in order to even apply for assistance. An income assistance worker explained that
WKHUHZHUHVLQJOHVH[VKHOWHUVLQ+DOLID[WKDWFRXOGEHXVHGDVDGGUHVVHVWRDSSO\IRULQFRPHDVVLVWDQFHEXWWKH
2XWRIWKH&ROGVKHOWHU·VDGGUHVVZRXOGQRWZRUN6WD\LQJWRJHWKHUPHDQWPRUHWKDQUHFHLYLQJLQFRPHDVVLVWDQFHVR6DQGUDDQG0DUWLQFRQWLQXHGWRVHDUFKIRUZRUNDQGVWD\DWWKH2XWRIWKH&ROGXQWLOWUDYHODUUDQJHPHQWVFRXOGEHPDGHIRUWKHPERWKWRJRRXW:HVWZKHUHIDPLO\VXSSRUWZDVDYDLODEOH
7KLVFDVHLVDQH[DPSOHRIWKHEDUULHUVWKDWSHRSOHZKRZHUHQRWDEOHWRVWD\DWWKHH[LVWLQJIXQGHGVKHOWHUV
experienced. The DCS practice to deny applications to social assistance based on the fact that people are not
VWD\LQJDWWKHULJKWW\SHRIDGGUHVVFUHDWHGXQQHFHVVDU\REVWDFOHVWKDWXOWLPDWHO\SUHYHQWHGSHRSOHIURPÀQGLQJKRXVLQJ7KLVFDVHDOVRKLJKOLJKWVWKHQHHGIRUDVKHOWHUWKDWDFFRPPRGDWHVFRXSOHV7KHUHZHUHVWD\V
by couples at the Out of the Cold Shelter this season, many of whom indicated that they would otherwise be
VOHHSLQJRXWGRRUVRULQXQVDIHFRQGLWLRQVLQVWHDGRIEHLQJVSOLWXSDWRWKHUJHQGHUVHJUHJDWHGVKHOWHUV
,QGLYLGXDOZKRZDVZRUNLQJEXWVWLOOXQDEOHWRÀQGKRXVLQJ
6WHSKHQLVLQKLVPLGWKLUWLHVDQGZDVOLYLQJZLWKDURRPPDWHZKHQDGLVSXWHIRUFHGKLPWROHDYH7KRXJKKH
ZDVZRUNLQJLQDUHWDLOSRVLWLRQKLVMREGLGQRWSD\HQRXJKIRU6WHSKHQWRSD\IRUUHQWELOOVIRRGDQGRWKHU
QHFHVVLWLHVE\KLPVHOIDQGKHIRXQGKLPVHOIRQWKHVWUHHW6WHSKHQWULHGDFFHVVLQJ0HWUR7XUQLQJ3RLQWEXWIHOW
XQVDIHDQGWHPSWHGLQWRGULQNLQJDQGGUXJKDELWVWKDWKHKDGGHDOWZLWKLQWKHSDVW+HZHQWWRWKH6DOYDWLRQ
$UP\EXWFRXOGQRWDIIRUGWRVDYHIRUDQHZDSDUWPHQWDQGDOVRSD\WKHQLJKWO\UDWHWKH\UHTXLUHG+HFDPHWR
WKH2XWRIWKH&ROGVKHOWHUZKHUHKHHQMR\HGDTXLHWHUDWPRVSKHUHZLWKIHZHUJXHVWVWKDQODUJHUVKHOWHUV+H
ZDVDOVRDEOHWRVDYHPRQH\DVWKH2XWRIWKH&ROGVKHOWHUGRHVQRWUHTXLUHSD\PHQWIRUURRPDQGERDUG
,QGLYLGXDOZLWKFRPSOLFDWHGPHGLFDWLRQQHHGV
2QWKHÀUVWQLJKWWKDW7KRPDVDFFHVVHGWKH2XWRIWKH&ROGVKHOWHUKHWXUQHGLQQXPHURXVERWWOHVRIPHGLFDWLRQKHZDVWDNLQJIRUPHQWDOKHDOWKLVVXHV:KHQDVNHGLIKHZDVDEOHWRDFFHVVRWKHUVKHOWHUVLQWKHFLW\
7KRPDVVWDWHGWKDWKHKDGKDGQXPHURXVFRQÁLFWVZLWKERWKVWDIIDQGJXHVWVDWRWKHUVKHOWHUVPRVWO\VWHPPLQJIURPEHKDYLRXUUHODWHGWRKLVPHQWDOKHDOWKVLWXDWLRQ
Thomas stayed on and off for a week before staff at the Out of the Cold shelter were contacted by nurses with
0RELOH2XWUHDFK6WUHHW+HDOWK026+ZKRZHUHFRQFHUQHGDERXWKLP7KRPDVZDVLQDFRPSOLFDWHGVLWXDWLRQ
ZKHUHLIKHGLGQRWWDNHKLVPHGLFDWLRQKLVPHQWDOKHDOWKZRXOGEHFRPHXQVWDEOHDQGKHFRXOGQRWQDYLJDWHKLV
ZD\VDIHO\WKURXJKWKHFLW\,I7KRPDVWRRNWRRPXFKPHGLFDWLRQDWRQFHKLVSK\VLFDOKHDOWKZRXOGEHLQMHRSDUG\DQGKHZRXOGRIWHQFROODSVHLQSXEOLF026+WULHGWRZRUNZLWK7KRPDVE\PHHWLQJZLWKKLPIUHTXHQWO\
DQGGLVWULEXWLQJKLVPHGLFDWLRQLQVPDOOGRVHVEXWWKLVVWLOOGLGQRWHQVXUHWKDWKHWRRNWKHSURSHUSLOOVLQWKH
SURSHUGRVHVDWWKHSURSHUWLPHV7KRPDVUHTXLUHGDVWDEOHVKHOWHUVLWXDWLRQZLWKERWKPHQWDOKHDOWKVXSSRUWV
and staff trained to dispense medication . When he is supported Thomas is a chatty and vibrant individual but
KLVVWDELOLW\FDQHDVLO\GHWHULRUDWHZKHQKLVPHGLFDWLRQJHWVRXWRIFRQWUROZKLFKKDSSHQVHDVLO\RQWKHVWUHHWV. ,QGLYLGXDOZLWKKLJKPHQWDOKHDOWKDQGVRFLDOQHHGV
5DFKDHOD\HDUROGZRPDQRIWHQFDPHWRWKHVKHOWHULQDVWDWHRIFULVLV(DFKQLJKWVKHZRXOGWDONZLWKVWDII
DQGJXHVWVDERXWWKHJRYHUQPHQWFRQVSLUDFLHVVKHZDVFRQYLQFHGRI7KRXJKVWDIIZHUHVXSSRUWLYHDQGOLVtened to her as best they could she was often unable to calm down and relax in the space. This tension carried
RYHUWRRWKHUJXHVWVZKRJUHZPRUHDQGPRUHDJLWDWHGZLWKKHUYROXPHDQGFRQVWDQWDWWHPSWVWRGUDZWKHP
into a conversation.
6WDIIWULHGWRGLVFXVVYDULRXVPHQWDOKHDOWKDQGVXSSRUWDJHQFLHVZLWK5DFKDHOEXWKHUWLPHDWWKHVKHOWHUZDV
always too short and unfocused to work on a real plan, even for the short-term. When staff discussed other
shelter options that may provide more stability for Rachael it was discovered that her behaviour and untreated
PHQWDOKHDOWKLVVXHVKDGFUHDWHGFRQÁLFWDWRWKHUVKHOWHUVDVZHOO6KHZDVDWKUHDWWRKHUVHOIDVVKHFUHDWHG
Out of the Cold Shelter - Halifax, NS
14
FRQÁLFWZLWKRWKHUJXHVWVDQGRIWHQH[DVSHUDWHGVWDIIZLWKKHUEHKDYLRXU7KH2XWRIWKH&ROGVKHOWHUZDVDEOH
to act as a mental health respite for her but, as we close, Rachael is left with little to no resources that haven’t
already been explored.
Needs
Short-term needs
7KHVKRUWWHUPQHHGUHFRJQL]HGE\27&6LVDQDOWHUQDWLYHVKHOWHUVSDFHLQWKH+50:HIRXQGWKDWZHZHUH
DEOHWRÀOOPDQ\QHHGHGJDSVLQVHUYLFHVE\VHUYLQJWKHQHHGVRI
‡ &RXSOHVWKDWZDQWHGWRVWD\WRJHWKHU
‡ ,QGLYLGXDOVZKRZDQWHGWRVWD\ZLWKWKHLUGRJV
‡ <RXWKZKRKDGEHHQWLPHGRXWGLVFKDUJHGRUXQDEOHWRVWD\GXHWRFDSDFLW\DW3KRHQL[6KHOWHU
‡ Individuals who wanted to stay in a shelter with low capacity
‡ ,QGLYLGXDOVZKRIHOWVDIHUDQGPRUHFRPIRUWDEOHDWDVKHOWHUZLWKDKLJKVWDIIWRJXHVWUDWLR
‡ ,QGLYLGXDOVZKRZDQWHGWRVWD\DZD\IURPODUJHUVKHOWHUVVXFKDV0HWUR7XUQLQJ3RLQWZKHUHWKHUHLVRIWHQDFXOWXUHRIGUXJDQGDOFRKROXVHDVZHOODVDQLQFUHDVHLQWKHIWDQGYLROHQFH
‡ Individuals who could not afford the rates of the Salvation Army
‡ ,QGLYLGXDOVZKRZHUHXVLQJVXEVWDQFHVDQGFRXOGQRWDFFHVVWKH6DOYDWLRQ$UP\EHFDXVHWKH\ZHUHLQWR[LFDWHGRUGXHWRIHDURIKDYLQJWKHLUVXEVWDQFHWDNHQDZD\DQGQRWUHWXUQHG
‡ ,QGLYLGXDOVZKRKDGKRXVLQJEXWQHHGHGDSODFHWRVWD\IRUQLJKWVZKLOHDFFHVVLQJVXSSRUWVHUYLFHVWR
UHVROYHLVVXHVDWWKHLUH[LVWLQJKRXVLQJ
‡ ,QGLYLGXDOVZLWKPHQWDOLOOQHVVZKRFRXOGQRWFRSHZLWKFURZGLQJDWODUJHUVKHOWHUVPDQ\RIZKRPQHHGHGVXSSRUWDFFHVVLQJWKHPHQWDOKHDOWKRUKRVSLWDOV\VWHP
‡ ,QGLYLGXDOVZKRQHHGHGDKLJKOHYHORIFDUHLQFOXGLQJWKRVHZKRQHHGHGDVVLVWDQFHZLWKPDQDJLQJPHGLFDWLRQVDVVLVWDQFHPHGLDWLQJFRQÁLFWVZLWKRWKHUJXHVWVDQGDVVLVWDQFHPDQDJLQJFRPSOH[SK\VLFDODQG
or mental health issues
,QGLYLGXDOVZKRDFFHVVVKHOWHUVGRVRIRUDYDULHW\RIUHDVRQVDQGUHTXLUHDYDULHW\RIVHUYLFHVWREHVXSSRUWHG
LQWRPRUHLQGHSHQGHQWDQGVWDEOHKRXVLQJ)RUVRPHLQGHSHQGHQFHZLOOPHDQOLYLQJRQWKHLURZQLQDQDSDUWPHQWRUURRPLQJKRXVHIRURWKHUVLWZLOOPHDQOLYLQJZLWKWKHVXSSRUWRIVRPHRQHZKRDVVLVWVZLWKPHQWDO
DQGRUSK\VLFDOKHDOWKQHHGVFKHFNVLQUHJDUGLQJDGGLFWLRQLVVXHVRUDVVLVWVZLWKPDQDJLQJGD\WRGD\UHsponsibilities.
$OWHUQDWLYHVKHOWHUVRIWHQZRUNZLWKLQKDUPUHGXFWLRQIUDPHZRUNVDQGSURYLGHDPRUHLQGLYLGXDOL]HGDSSURDFK
WRVXSSRUW%HFDXVHRIWKHVHDSSURDFKHVWKH\DFWDVDQHDVLHUEULGJHWRFURVVDVSHRSOHWUDQVLWLRQIURPWKH
VWUHHWWRPRUHVWDEOHVSDFHVVXFKDVKRXVLQJRUVXSSRUWLYHVLWHVVXFKDVGHWR[
Out of the Cold Shelter - Halifax, NS
15
Long-term needs
,QGLYLGXDOVZKRDFFHVVVKHOWHUVGRVRIRUDYDULHW\RIUHDVRQVDQGUHTXLUHDYDULHW\RIVHUYLFHVWREHVXSSRUWHG
LQWRPRUHLQGHSHQGHQWDQGVWDEOHKRXVLQJ)RUVRPHLQGHSHQGHQFHZLOOPHDQOLYLQJRQWKHLURZQLQDQDSDUWPHQWRUURRPLQJKRXVHIRURWKHUVLWZLOOPHDQOLYLQJZLWKWKHVXSSRUWRIVRPHRQHZKRDVVLVWVZLWKPHQWDO
DQGRUSK\VLFDOKHDOWKQHHGVFKHFNVLQUHJDUGLQJDGGLFWLRQLVVXHVRUDVVLVWVZLWKPDQDJLQJGD\WRGD\UHsponsibilities.
$OWHUQDWLYHVKHOWHUVRIWHQZRUNZLWKLQKDUPUHGXFWLRQIUDPHZRUNVDQGSURYLGHDPRUHLQGLYLGXDOL]HGDSSURDFK
WRVXSSRUW%HFDXVHRIWKHVHDSSURDFKHVWKH\DFWDVDQHDVLHUEULGJHWRFURVVDVSHRSOHWUDQVLWLRQIURPWKH
VWUHHWWRPRUHVWDEOHVSDFHVVXFKDVKRXVLQJRUVXSSRUWLYHVLWHVVXFKDVGHWR[
Gaps in Services
7KHODUJHVWJDSVLQVHUYLFHWKDWWKH2XWRIWKH&ROGVKHOWHUVDZZHUHWKRVHIRU\RXWKIRULQGLYLGXDOVZKRZHUH
VHHNLQJDVVLVWDQFHZLWKPHQWDOKHDOWKLVVXHVDQGIRULQGLYLGXDOVZKRZHUHVHHNLQJEHGVLQGHWR[FHQWUHV
<RXWKDUHWKHODUJHVWJURZLQJVHJPHQWRIWKHKRPHOHVVSRSXODWLRQDQGWKLVVWDWLVWLFZDVSURYHQE\WKHJURZLQJ
QXPEHURI\RXWKDFFHVVLQJRXUVKHOWHU$OPRVWHYHU\QLJKWWKLVVHDVRQWKH27&6VDZDQXPEHURI\RXWK2Q
DYHUDJHRIDOOJXHVWVZHUH\HDUVROGRU\RXQJHU1LJKWO\FDOOVWRRWKHUVKHOWHUVVKRZHG3KRHQL[WREHDW
RUYHU\FORVHWRFDSDFLW\HYHU\QLJKW(YHQZKHQWKHUHZDVVSDFHDW3KHRQL[VRPH\RXWKKDGEHHQWLPHGRXW
IRUEHKDYLRXURUGLVFKDUJHGIRUZHHNVDWWLPHEHFDXVHWKH\KDGUHDFKHGWKHLUDOORWWHGWLPHWKH\ZHUHDOORZHG
WRVWD\3KRHQL[LVWKHRQO\VKHOWHUIRU\RXWKLQWKH0DULWLPHVDQGGRHVQRWKDYHHQRXJKUHVRXUFHVWRPHHWWKH
demand for services.
0DQ\RIRXUJXHVWVDVNHGIRUVXSSRUWLQDFFHVVLQJGHWR[FHQWUHV:HZRXOGGLVFXVVRSWLRQVZLWKSHRSOHDQG
PDNHDOLVWRISKRQHQXPEHUVWRFDOOWRDVNLIEHGVZHUHDYDLODEOH)RUWKRVHVHHNLQJEHGVLWZDVRIWHQDORQJ
wait for a bed to become free and even when one was available it was often in rural Nova Scotia which posed
QHZFKDOOHQJHVLQWHUPVRIWUDYHO
'HSDUWPHQWRI&RPPXQLW\6HUYLFHV'&6
6RPHWLPHVRXUHIIRUWVWRVXSSRUWRXUJXHVWVPHDQWWKDWZHKDGWRDGYRFDWHRQWKHLUEHKDOIWRWKH'HSDUWPHQW
RI&RPPXQLW\6HUYLFHV'&67ZRRIWKHELJJHVWFKDOOHQJHVWKDWZHIDFHGZKHQGRLQJVRDUHRXWOLQHGEHORZ
‡ The Department of Community Services did not see the address of the Out of the Cold shelter as an address that could be used for an income assistance application. This was detrimental to individuals who
ZHUHVWD\LQJDWRXUVKHOWHUEHFDXVHZHZHUHWKHLUODVWRURQO\RSWLRQ0DQ\JXHVWVZDQWHGWRDSSO\IRU
LQFRPHDVVLVWDQFHLQRUGHUWRHYHQWXDOO\REWDLQWKHLURZQKRXVLQJ
‡ '&6QRORQJHUKDVDKRXUKHOSOLQH7KLVSKRQHOLQHXVHGWREHDYDLODEOHIRUFDOOVLQHPHUJHQF\VLWXDWLRQVZKLFKRFFXUUHGRIWHQGXULQJWKHVHDVRQ7KHUHZHUHQLJKWVWKDWZHVDZSHRSOHVOHHSRQWKH
steps outside of the Out of the Cold Shelter because we were at capacity and they could not access other
VKHOWHUVGXHWRFDSDFLW\RUEHLQJWLPHGRXW$WWKHVHWLPHVVWDIIZHUHJUHDWO\FRQFHUQHGDERXWWKHVDIHW\
of these individuals, especially when the weather was harsher or when they were in a more vulnerable
state. At these times staff needed a 24 hour line to call to obtain assistance from DCS to help the population they state they serve. What would they do for a person who is forced to sleep on the street when they
say that no individual will ever be put in that situation because of their work?
Out of the Cold Shelter - Halifax, NS
16
What We Are Calling For
‡ For an increase in shelter options in Nova Scotia. There needs to be an increase in the number of shelters
DYDLODEOHDQGDGHFUHDVHRIWKHQXPEHURIEHGVDWHDFKVKHOWHU(YHU\VKHOWHULVJRLQJWRKDYHFKDOOHQJHV
LQHVWDEOLVKLQJDQGPDLQWDLQLQJDVDIHVSDFH27&6LQFOXGHGEXWRXUIURQWOLQHVWDIIKDYHKHDUGÀUVWKDQG
WKHUHDVRQVLQGLYLGXDOVDUHQRWDFFHVVLQJH[LVWLQJEHGVLQWKH+50,IVWHSVZHUHPDGHWRLQFUHDVHWKH
shelter options available and make current shelters smaller, many of the issues that arise from the overFURZGLQJRIWKLVSRSXODWLRQZRXOGEHJUHDWO\UHGXFHG6PDOOHUQXPEHUVRIJXHVWVVWD\LQJDWDQ\SDUWLFXODU
VKHOWHUZRXOGUHGXFHWKHDPRXQWRIGUXJXVHDQGGUXJFXOWXUHVXUURXQGLQJWKHVKHOWHUUHGXFHWKHIWDQG
LQWLPLGDWLRQDQGUHGXFHWKHDQ[LHW\WKDWPDQ\IHHOZKHQVWD\LQJLQRYHUFURZGHGVLWXDWLRQV3HRSOHZRXOG
QRWRQO\IHHOPRUHFRPIRUWDEOHDFFHVVLQJHVWDEOLVKHGVKHOWHUVEXWWKHLUVWD\ZRXOGEHPRUHSRVLWLYHDQG
SURGXFWLYHDVWKH\ZRXOGIHHOVHFXUHHQRXJKWRHVWDEOLVKDQGZRUNRQRWKHUJRDOV,QFUHDVHGVKHOWHU
RSWLRQVZRXOGDOVRHQVXUHWKDWSHRSOHKDYHDSODFHWRJRLIWKH\DUHWLPHGRXWRUGLVFKDUJHGIURPRQH
VKHOWHURULIVRPHRQHKDVDFRQÁLFWZLWKVRPHRQHDQGGRHVQ·WIHHOVDIHVWD\LQJDWWKHVDPHVKHOWHU
‡ )RUWKH2XWRIWKH&ROG(PHUJHQF\:LQWHU6KHOWHUWRUHFHLYHIXQGLQJDQGEHFRPHDUHFRJQL]HGFRPSRQHQWRIWKHVKHOWHUFRPPXQLW\LQWKH+50LQGLYLGXDOVDFFHVVHGWKH27&6LQWKHPRQWKVRIRSHUDtion. Many of these individuals stated that the OTCS was the only space they felt safe and comfortable
DFFHVVLQJ:LWKVXFKKLJKQXPEHUVRISHRSOHOHIWZLWKQRRSWLRQVRWKHUWKDQWKH27&6LWKDVSURYHQWKH
need for a smaller and alternative options.
‡ )RUWKHHVWDEOLVKPHQWLPSOHPHQWDWLRQDQGFRPPLWPHQWWRDUHDODIIRUGDEOHDQGVXSSRUWLYHKRXVLQJ
VWUDWHJ\WKDWZLOOFUHDWHPRUHRSWLRQVIRUWKRVHH[SHULHQFLQJKRPHOHVVQHVVWRPRYHWRZDUGVVWDEOHKRXVLQJ
Next Year
7KHUHLVDFRQWLQXLQJGHVLUHIURPYROXQWHHUVDVZHOODVWKHJHQHUDOFRPPXQLW\WRVHHWKH27&6RSHUDWHDJDLQ
LQWKHVHDVRQ6DLQW0DWWKHZ·V8QLWHG&KXUFKQRWHGWKDWLWZDVDSRVLWLYHH[SHULHQFHIRUWKHFKXUFK
DQGDYDOXDEOHVHUYLFHWKDWWKH\ZRXOGOLNHWRFRQWLQXHWRVXSSRUW7KH\KDYHDJUHHGWRKRVWDVWKHVKHOWHU
ORFDWLRQDJDLQQH[WVHDVRQ,QRUGHUWRRSHUDWHDJDLQQH[WVHDVRQWKHODUJHVWREVWDFOHLVVHFXULQJDGHTXDWH
IXQGLQJ)XQGLQJPXVWEHVHFXUHGWREHDEOHWRDIIRUGEDVLFVHUYLFHVVXFKDVWHOHSKRQHDQGDODUPVHUYLFHVDV
ZHOODVKLUHVWDIIIRUDGPLQLVWUDWLRQYROXQWHHUFRRUGLQDWLRQDQGRQVLWHVKHOWHURSHUDWLRQV
Ideally we would not need to run the OTCS next year but the reality is that there will always be a need for
VKHOWHUVLQRXUVRFLHW\(YHQLIPRUHDIIRUGDEOHDQGVXSSRUWLYHKRXVLQJLVSURYLGHGWKHUHZLOOVWLOOEHWKRVHZKR
UHTXLUHHPHUJHQF\VHUYLFHVDIWHUXQIRUHVHHQFLUFXPVWDQFHVSXOOVWDELOLW\IURPXQGHUWKHLUIHHW7KHVHVHUYLFHV
however, should not become places where individuals reside for years at a time before another option can be
found.
“You guys are helpful and I have a lot of respect for you. I hope this survey helps you be
open next year. You guys work wonders – keep up the good work.”
DJXHVW
Out of the Cold Shelter - Halifax, NS
17
The Cost of Not Funding
“Everywhere that I visited in Canada, I met people who are homeless and living in inadequate and insecure housing conditions. On this mission I heard of hundreds of people who have died, as a direct result
of Canada’s nation-wide housing crisis. In its most recent periodic review of Canada’s compliance with the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the United Nations used strong language
to label housing and homelessness and inadequate housing as a ‘national emergency.’ Everything that I
ZLWQHVVHGRQWKLVPLVVLRQFRQÀUPVWKHGHHSDQGGHYDVWDWLQJLPSDFWRIWKLVQDWLRQDOFULVLVRQWKHOLYHVRI
women, youth, children and men.”
6RXUFH0LORRQ.RWKDUL3UHOLPLQDU\2EVHUYDWLRQVRI0LVVLRQWR&DQDGD8QLWHG1DWLRQV
6SHFLDO5DSSRUWHXURQWKH5LJKWWR$GHTXDWH+RXVLQJ
+RXVLQJLVRQHRIWKHPRVWEDVLFUHTXLUHPHQWVUHTXLUHGWRHQVXUHDQLQGLYLGXDOLVKHDOWK\LQERWKPLQGDQG
ERG\7KHLPSDFWRIDODFNRIVHFXUHVDIHDQGDIIRUGDEOHKRXVLQJRQWKHKHDOWKRILQGLYLGXDOVKDVEHHQVWXGLHGDWOHQJWKDQGKDVEHHQUHFRJQL]HGDVRQHRIPDMRUVRFLDOGHWHUPLQDQWVRIDQLQGLYLGXDO·VRYHUDOOKHDOWK2
5HFRJQL]LQJWKDWEHLQJZLWKRXWDKRPHKDVDVLJQLÀFDQWLPSDFWRQKHDOWKLWKDVEHHQIRXQGWKDWKRPHOHVV
SHRSOHH[SHULHQFHDPXFKJUHDWHUUDWHRIDZLGHUDQJHRISK\VLFDODQGPHQWDOKHDOWKSUREOHPVWKDQWKHJHQHUDOSRSXODWLRQ)RUH[DPSOHWKHOLNHOLKRRGRIHDUO\GHDWKDPRQJKRPHOHVVSHRSOHLVWLPHVJUHDWHUWKDQ
WKHJHQHUDOSRSXODWLRQ3$YDULHW\RIIDFWRUVSOD\LQWRWKLVKLJKHUGHDWKUDWHLQFOXGLQJVXEVWDQGDUGKRXVLQJ
PD\H[SRVHLQGLYLGXDOVWRWR[LQVVXFKDVOHDGDQGPRXOGSRRUKHDWLQJDQGGUDIWVFDQVLJQLÀFDQWO\LQFUHDVH
FRVWVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKPDLQWDLQLQJDKDELWDEOHVSDFHDQGFUHDWHVLWXDWLRQVZKLFKDUHXQVXLWDEOHIRUWKHSURPRWLRQRIKHDOWK\LQGLYLGXDOVRYHUFURZGLQJZKHWKHULWEHLQVXEVWDQGDUGKRXVLQJRULQDVKHOWHUHQYLURQPHQWFDQ
OHDGWRWKHWUDQVPLVVLRQRIDYDULHW\RIFRPPXQLFDEOHGLVHDVHV1RWHDJDLQWKDWWKHVHDUHMXVWVRPHH[DPSOHV
RIDP\ULDGRIKHDOWKFKDOOHQJHVIDFHGE\WKRVHZLWKRXWVXLWDEOHKRXVLQJ
$QRWKHUSUREOHPZKLFKIXUWKHUH[DFHUEDWHVWKHKHDOWKFRQGLWLRQRIWKRVHOLYLQJZLWKRXWVXLWDEOHKRXVLQJLVWKH
LQFUHDVHGGLIÀFXOW\LQÀQGLQJKRXVLQJRQFHDQLQGLYLGXDOÀQGVWKHPVHOYHVWREHKRPHOHVV,QVKRUWWKHORQJHU
a person is homeless, the worse his or her health becomes. Street youth interviewed in Halifax in a 2004 study4
VWDWHGWKDWWKH\XVXDOO\KDGPXOWLSOHKHDOWKSUREOHPVH[DFHUEDWHGE\FROGKXQJHUSRRUKRXVLQJSRRUGLHWV
DQGWKHKLJKULVNEHKDYLRXUVWKH\HQJDJHLQWRVXUYLYH1XPHURXVVWXGLHVDOVRGHPRQVWUDWHWKDWPHQWDOLOOQHVV
²GHSUHVVLRQDQ[LHW\SRVWWUDXPDWLFVWUHVVDQGIHHOLQJVRIXQFRQWUROODEOHDQJHU²DUHIXUWKHUH[DFHUEDWHGE\
KRPHOHVVQHVV$VZHOOVXEVWDQFHPLVXVHDQGDGGLFWLRQDUHPDMRUSUREOHPVIRUVRPHLQGLYLGXDOVH[SHULHQFLQJ
homelessness. While in some instances this may be a possible cause of this homelessness, it is also a subseTXHQWEDUULHUWRJHWWLQJRIIWKHVWUHHW
,WLVQRWHDV\WRVHSDUDWHWKHHIIHFWVRIKRXVLQJIURPRWKHUIDFWRUVZKHQH[DPLQLQJDQLQGLYLGXDO·VKHDOWKVLQFH
SRYHUW\SRRUKRXVLQJDQGSUHH[LVWLQJLOOQHVVHVRIWHQJRWRJHWKHUEXWVWXGLHVWKDWKDYHVHSDUDWHGWKHPVKRZ
SRRUKRXVLQJFRQGLWLRQVWREHLQGHSHQGHQWFDXVHVRIDGYHUVHKHDOWKRXWFRPHV6 +DYLQJVDLGWKDWLWPXVWDOVR
EHQRWHGWKDWWKHUHLVDF\FOLFDOQDWXUHWRPDQ\RIWKHKHDOWKSUREOHPVIHOWE\WKRVHH[SHULHQFLQJKRPHOHVVQHVV3RRUK\JLHQHOHDGVWRZRUVHQHGKHDOWKRXWFRPHVZKLFKWKHQOHDGVWRJUHDWHUGLIÀFXOWLHVDFFHVVLQJKRXVLQJDQGRUWKHMREPDUNHWDQGVRWKHF\FOHFRQWLQXHV
%XWZKDWRIFRVWV":KLOHLWLVUHFRJQL]HGWKDWKRPHOHVVQHVVKDVDQLPSDFWRQWKHKHDOWKRIWKHLQGLYLGXDOLW
Social Determinants of Health: The Canadian Facts.
Ibid.
4
([SORULQJ6DOLHQW,VVXHVRI<RXWK+RPHOHVVQHVVLQ+DOLID[1RYD6FRWLD)HEUXDU\'U-HII.DUDEDQRZ0DULWLPH6FKRRORI6RFLDO:RUN
%DFNJURXQGHUKWWSZZZKDOLID[FDTROGRFXPHQWV%DFNJURXQGHU<RXWK+RPHOHVVQHVVLQ+50SGI
6
The Canadian Facts.
2
3
Out of the Cold Shelter - Halifax, NS
18
VKRXOGDOVREHQRWHGWKDWDFFHSWLQJWKHH[LVWHQFHRIDKRPHOHVVSRSXODWLRQDOVREHDUVDUHDOFRVWERWKÀQDQcially and socially, to the communities involved.
$VWXG\XQGHUWDNHQE\WKH%&SURYLQFLDOJRYHUQPHQWIRXQGWKDWLQ²SURYLGLQJPDMRUJRYHUQPHQW
VHUYLFHVLQFOXGLQJKHDOWKFDUHFULPLQDOMXVWLFHDQGVRFLDOVHUYLFHVH[FOXGLQJKRXVLQJWRWKHKRPHOHVVLQFOXGHG
LQWKHVWXG\FRVWRQDYHUDJHSHUFHQWPRUHWKDQWKHKRXVHGFRPSDUHGWR:KHQFRPELQHGWKHVHUYLFHDQGVKHOWHUFRVWVRIWKHKRPHOHVVSHRSOHUDQJHGIURPWRRQDYHUDJHSHU
SHUVRQIRURQH\HDULQFOXGLQJWKHFRVWVRIVWD\LQJLQDQHPHUJHQF\VKHOWHU7KHFRPELQHGFRVWVRIVHUYLFHV
DQGKRXVLQJIRUKRXVHGLQGLYLGXDOVUDQJHGIURPWRSHUSHUVRQSHU\HDU,WLVZRUWKQRWLQJWKDW
WKHVHKRXVHGLQGLYLGXDOVZHUHKRXVHGLQJRYHUQPHQWIXQGHGVXSSRUWLYHKRXVLQJ7KXVHYHQZKHQKRXVLQJ
FRVWVDUHLQFOXGHGWKHWRWDOJRYHUQPHQWFRVWVIRUWKHKRXVLQJIRUPHUO\KRPHOHVVLQGLYLGXDOVDPRXQWHGWROHVV
WKDQWKHJRYHUQPHQWFRVWVIRUWKHKRPHOHVVLQGLYLGXDOVZLWKDVDYLQJVRIXSWRSHUSHUVRQ
Providing adequate supportive housing to the homeless people in this study saved the provincial government money.
:KLOHLWLVUHFRJQL]HGWKDWDSUHYHQWDWLYHDSSURDFKWRGHDOLQJZLWKWKHLVVXHRIKRPHOHVVQHVVFDQLQGHHGVDYH
RQFRVWVIRUWKRVHJRYHUQPHQWVWDFNOLQJWKLVLVVXHLWLVLPSRUWDQWWRNHHSLQPLQGWKDWHPHUJHQF\IDFLOLWLHV
LQFOXGLQJVKHOWHUVZLOOFRQWLQXHWREHDQLPSRUWDQWFRPSRQHQWRIWKHKRXVLQJFRQWLQXXP*RYHUQPHQWLQLWLDWLYHVZKLFKKHOSWKRVHZKRDUHKRXVHGPDLQWDLQWKHLUKRXVLQJHJUHQWFRQWUROVHYLFWLRQSUHYHQWLRQHWFDQG
ZKLFKKHOSWKRVHZKRDUHQRZKRPHOHVVÀQGDGHTXDWHSHUPDQHQWKRXVLQJHJLQFUHDVLQJWKHQXPEHURIVXSSRUWLYHKRXVLQJRSWLRQVLQWKHSURYLQFHZLOOFHUWDLQO\KHOSUHGXFHERWKWKHPRQHWDU\DQGVRFLDOFRVWVDVVRFLated with homelessness.
+RPHOHVVQHVVFDXVHVHIIHFWV9ROXPH7KH&RVWVRI+RPHOHVVQHVVLQ%ULWLVK&ROXPELD
“It’s been a good winter because of you guys.”
DJXHVWDW2XWRIWKH&ROG6KHOWHU