A multi-faceted housing approach

The Portal Youth Outreach Association executive director Russ Sanche said he thinks the shelter village will help fill a void and offer more robust support for those who don’t have family or friends they can stay with.

“The Tiny Shelter Village would provide a community for those that do not have a community,” Sanche said.

He said the shelter village is one solution of many. It would address a specific demographic that is already here and struggling with episodic homelessness or remaining housed.

Sanche said that, up to this point, there has been misinformation circulating about the value of the temporary housing and how it’s being rolled out.

“I think people’s fear gets in the way,” Sanche said. “People can latch onto some

stories dramatic or sensational that are more the exception than the rule of what’s going on.”

He said it would be “amazing” if people would simply ask questions and offer their assistance in establishing solutions that that would provide a safe, compassionate solution to someone’s plight around homelessness.

Sanche said they’ve been working together as a community to solve this community problem. Several non-profit organizations are working in partnership with the Province of Nova Scotia,

Department of Community

Affairs Services, and Municipal and Housing.

He said the more they can inform government of the need and the more they can be in touch with “the real people and the real stories,” the better they can address housing shortfalls.

“Addressing homelessness is a complicated issue and building more housing is an involved and complicated process,” Sanche said. “This Tiny Shelter Village will establish a pilot or a model of what transitional housing can look like in a community.”

Recently, The Portal, Community Inclusion Society, Valley Community Learning Association, Canadian Mental Health Association, Project Hope, Open Arms, and the Kids Action Program formed the Valley Roots Housing Cooperative.

Sanche said they are working to establish and

dignified, build housing that is attainable, and that fits with community needs. They hope to facilitate many different housing solutions that everyone can be proud of, and that help “change the tide of this challenge.”

He said great strides have been made through the

Initiative. Homeless No More Collaborative tables have been established for young people, and now adults.