Nova Scotia ends funding for New Glasgow homeless shelter

The Nova Scotia provincial government has announced it will end funding for the Northstar Shelter and Support Services in New Glasgow following a 90-day transition period. Opportunities and Social Development Minister Susan Corkum-Greek stated that the current emergency shelter model is insufficient for the increasing complexity of homelessness cases and that the province is moving toward a new model focused on supportive and transitional housing.

The province is initiating a call for expressions of interest for supportive housing projects in Pictou, Lunenburg, and Kings counties. During the transition in New Glasgow, a team of outreach workers and professionals will assist shelter guests in finding alternative housing and supports.

The executive director of the Northstar shelter has alleged that the funding cut occurred one day after the facility refused a provincial demand to evict a resident who had previously committed a crime against a prominent family in Pictou County.