Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth, HRM Advances Rapidly on Emergency Shelter Housing – Halifax | The Canadian News

A rainy Monday in Halifax can be better than snow, as it is almost December.

But the humid climate, whatever happens, creates additional challenges for the homeless.

“There is a clear sense of urgency,” says Dartmouth Center councilman Sam Austin. “When we analyzed the problem, the quickest thing we could do was add modular homes. And this is a home like you would find in a remote workplace. “

The Halifax Regional Municipality expects to hand over the keys to Out of the Cold Community Association, a front-line agency, by the end of December, Austin says.

A municipal update says installation of the modular units is expected to be completed on December 20.

There will be space for 24 people at one location on Alderney Drive.

Coun. Austin is holding a briefing on Monday night in response to comments he has already received about the project.

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“Some people, yes, they are so glad that HRM is taking serious action on this issue,” he says. “I heard some people, directly, [say] I don’t want this in my neighborhood. “

A Halifax location, which has yet to be publicly announced, will have space for 44 people.

The municipality has contributed $ 3.2 million to the project, while the province is providing $ 2.7 million to Out of the Cold.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth is also providing shelter. They have 17 to 20 individual units built for parish properties in and around HRM.

Those units will be ready by December 24th.

Archbishop Brian Dunn says homelessness became a top priority when he took office a year ago.

“The idea was to really recognize that this is a huge concern, not just in Halifax but throughout the archdiocese,” Dunn says.

The archdiocese has just received the green light from the municipality to have these shelters on its properties. The total cost of the project, which will be increased, is approximately $ 230,000.

The engineering design has been donated.

“They are well-organized shelters and that adds to the cost,” says John Stevens, project manager for the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth.

“They are 8 ′ by 8 ′ with a metal roof, metal cladding, gyprock finish on the inside, R-12 insulation. We are even running electricity from nearby buildings to power USB charging ports, lights, built-in smoke detectors, [and] of course, electric heating. “

Stevens says owning the properties and having the engineering firm up and running quickly will help the archdiocese meet the tight schedule.