Out of the Cold Emergency Winter Shelter finds new Halifax home

After months of searching, Halifax's Out of the Cold Emergency Winter Shelter has found a new home at 5853 College St.

"I was deeply relieved because it's getting much colder out there and people need shelter overnight," said Jeff Karabanow, one of the founders of the Out of the Cold Shelter.

The shelter, which normally operates from December to April, hasn't been operating this winter. The new location will open in early January. The building was lent to the shelter by the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, who said it wouldn't be using the space for a while.

"And then we waited for stuff to be signed, we had to look to the province for some supporting funding and it just kind of rolled into that," Karabanow said.

"In about 2½ weeks, we had the building and we have contractors in right now and cleaners."

For 10 years, the shelter operated out of St. Matthew's United Church in downtown Halifax.

In October, Karabanow told CBC News the church space "just wasn't working" anymore. He said an official opening date will be announced later. 

"It was a true community effort to help us secure a location. We are humbled by the support we received and would like to acknowledge and thank our partners who helped make this happen," the shelter said in a Facebook post.

The shelter is a last resort for people on the street. The shelter has taken in couples, people with pets and people with mental health and addiction issues.

A homelike space

The organization was also looking to try a "supportive housing model," which would involve offering long-term housing for people looking to get off the streets. Karabanow said this new location is ideal for it.

"It's a house that's going to be run through the Friendship Centre, but they are very keen for supportive housing and long-term affordable supportive housing, so they are really open to us partnering with them," he said.

"And so we're going to think through a model where we could possibly have a first floor that is a drop-in space, a community space, possibly some programming, possibly some clinical work.

"And then we have units on the two upper floors and maybe in the basement that are supportive housing, so long-term, something that is much more compassionate and sustainable."

Location is less central, but has other perks

The new location isn't as centrally located as St. Matthew's, but Karabanow is hoping people will take advantage of it.

"We're a little bit away from all the other shelters, so that's going to be interesting, but I think there's a lot of strength to it as well. I think it's going to be a little healthier, less hectic environment as well," he said.

"Primarily, it's a house, so it's going to be much more cozy. We're going to have plants, we're going to put posters up, it's not going to feel like the basement of a church, it's going to feel like a house."