Winter shelter opens in Truro amid falling temperatures, rising homelessness

A winter homeless shelter has opened in Truro, N.S., for the second consecutive year, aimed at keeping the town's growing unhoused population warm and safe overnight as temperatures dip.

Funded by the provincial government and run by the Soul's Harbour Rescue Mission, it will be open seven days a week from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. until the end of April.

Haven House, the town's permanent shelter that can accommodate up to 25 people, is full every night. The winter shelter aims to help close that gap.

"This year we've increased the number of beds from 15 to 20," said Cherry Laxton, the chief operating officer of Soul's Harbour Rescue Mission. "So sadly, that just means that there's more people living rough that need that space."

Laxton called it an "emergency overflow shelter," and said it is operating in the bottom floor of the Connection Church on Pleasant Street, welcoming people of all genders over age 18. 

"It was the province who reached out to us and basically said, 'Listen, we don't have enough permanent shelter space in Truro. We're wondering if you guys would be able to step up and meet this need in the community,'" she said.

Laxton said Soul's Harbour also runs a drop-in centre, a free store, and a soup kitchen that feeds up to 100 people daily. 

Local service providers say there has been a rise in people sleeping outside in Truro as people are released from incarceration or hospitals, move to the area, or simply can't afford housing.

According to the Truro Housing Outreach Society, 42 people are currently homeless, and a growing number have been sheltering in a tent encampment near Highway 102. 

This is causing worry for community organizations, local residents and town officials.

"No one, if they're willing to go to the shelter, should have to be unhoused during the cold months," said Cathy Hinton, Truro's mayor. 

Laxton said staff with the Truro Housing Outreach Society will continue to make contact with people sleeping outside, and refer them to the new shelter if they're interested. They'll also make sure everyone is on a caseload.

"Whatever town you happen to be in, there are some folks that just will choose to stay in the encampments," Laxton said. "But we're really hoping to provide service and keep a number of them warm through the winter."

According to Nova Scotia's Department of Community Services, the province provided $159,000 to Soul's Harbour to run the shelter last year, and is currently finalizing an agreement for this winter. 

Laxton said Soul's Harbour has hired and trained eight staff who will work on alternating overnight shifts.