Shelter Nova Scotia

06/16/2026

Every meal donated by our volunteers provides nourishment while also helping create connection, community, and a sense of being remembered and cared for. Learn more: joanstable.com

🏡 Home is a roof over someone’s head, but it’s also a place to belong ❤️

At Joan’s Table, we often talk about the residents of Herring Cove Apartments and The Rebuilding as tenants, neighbours, and community members because these are their homes.

While both locations are operated by Shelter Nova Scotia, they are not shelters. They are supported housing units where people who have experienced homelessness now live and call home. For many, the stability of a front door, a bed, familiar faces, and a place to belong comes after years without a permanent home.

Every meal donated by our volunteers provides nourishment while also helping create connection, community, and a sense of being remembered and cared for.

In May, our amazing volunteers provided 22 meals across our two supported housing units. Thank you for helping transform housing into home, one meal at a time.

Learn more: joanstable.com

06/16/2026

Unverified , June 15, 2026: Crystal m**h suspected to contain xylazine and fentanyl in West Hants.

We have received a report from a community source regarding crystal m**h suspected to contain xylazine and fentanyl in West Hants. The report indicates the drug originated in Halifax Regional Municipality.

How to Stay Safe: Let someone know, start low, and go slow.

✔ Do NOT use drugs alone – Use with someone you trust or call the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) at 1-888-688-NORS. They will stay on the phone with you while you use, so they can get you help if needed.

✔ Start with a very small amount – These drugs are stronger than what people may expect or may be used to.

✔ Have naloxone ready – Naloxone can help with opioid overdoses, but it will NOT work on other substances, such as benzodiazepines. Even if you're unsure what substance caused an overdose, always give naloxone—it won’t harm the person, but it may help if opioids are involved.

✔ Call 911 immediately for any overdose – Even if naloxone is used, emergency help is still needed.

✔ Naloxone is only effective for opioids. It will not impact the effects of benzodiazepines or tranquilizers like medetomidine, xylazine, or other drug types. Medical help from 911 or the hospital is required. If naloxone is ineffective, start rescue breaths. August 2024 5 Steps to Save a Life - Nasal Naloxone:https://mha.nshealth.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/5%20steps%20to%20save%20a%20life.pdf

✔ Expect the unexpected – Always assume street drugs may not be what you think and contain drugs different from or stronger than you expect. Pills that look like real medicine could be fake.

✔ Avoid mixing drugs – Combining opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol greatly increases the risk of overdose and death.

✔ Go to an overdose prevention site – If available in your area, these sites provide a safe space to use drugs with medical staff who can help in case of an emergency.

• ReFIX Halifax: 2151 Gottingen St. (902-209-9370)
• PeerSix Sydney: 75 Prince St. (902-567-1766)

If someone overdoses:

· Call 911 immediately – Tell them someone is unresponsive.
· Give naloxone if you have it. More than one dose may be needed if high potency opioids are involved. If there are no opioids, naloxone will be ineffective but will not cause harm – give it anyway.
· Stay with them and make sure they can breathe.
· If they stop breathing, perform CPR until help arrives.

Get Free Naloxone Kits: You can get naloxone for free at most pharmacies and harm reduction programs. To learn more, visit: https://mha.nshealth.ca/en/takehomenaloxoneprogram

Looking for help?

• Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line – 1-888-429-8167
• Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868; Text CONNECT to 686868
• Mental Health and Addictions Intake Service - (Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30; Tues and Thurs until 8 pm) - 1-855-922-1122
• 211 Nova Scotia - information and referrals to community and social services: Call 2-1-1 or 1-855-466-4994; Email: [email protected]

06/15/2026

The Hub is offering support with completing housing related forms and applications on Tuesdays from 10am-12pm, no appointment required. We are located on the corner of Gottingen and Cunard Street in Halifax.

06/15/2026

Grab your tickets 👉 homesforall5050.com

Funds raised will help us provide basic necessities to people in our community who are struggling, including:

• access to showers, laundry, food and clothing
• shelter services and supported housing
• clinical mental health interventions and grief counselling
• housing support, and living supports once housed
• support to navigate landlord relationships, tenancy laws and eviction prevention

Help spread the word and let’s get this month’s jackpot higher than ever before 💰

Draw date: Thurs, June 25, 2026

06/13/2026

This is your sign to grab your 50/50 tickets and support a great cause: homesforall5050.com

For more than 50 years, Shelter Nova Scotia has been a place where people can find their footing — and where our community comes together to protect dignity, offer support, and champion the right to housing for all.

Draw date: Thurs, June 25th, 2026

06/12/2026

A huge thank you to the Halifax Assistance Fund for their generous $10,000 donation to support food security in our community. This week, Halifax Assistance Fund Board Member Curtis Karrel stopped by Shelter Nova Scotia to present the cheque, helping make a meaningful difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness in Halifax.

This funding will fully support one month of our Meals That Matter program, which provides nutritious food and grocery gift cards to approximately 300 adults who rely on Shelter Nova Scotia for support. At a time when Nova Scotia is facing the highest rates of food insecurity in Canada, this contribution helps ensure participants have dignity, choice, and consistent access to healthy meals.

By funding one month of meals, the Halifax Assistance Fund is helping Halifax’s most vulnerable residents meet a basic need without having to choose between food and other essentials.

06/11/2026

Get your tickets today 👉 HOMESFORALL5050.COM 🎫 As a non-profit charitable organization fundraising is an important part of what we do every year to help cover our operational expenses. Every purchase of 50/50 tickets helps to keep our doors open and our programs running.

Draw date: Thurs, June 25th, 2026

Help spread the word and share this post 📣

Rafflebox

06/10/2026

We’re honoured to see Linda Wilson’s decades of service recognized in Parliament by MP Shannon Miedema.

Linda’s compassion, leadership, and dedication to supporting our community’s most vulnerable individuals have left a lasting impact on Shelter Nova Scotia and on countless lives throughout Halifax.

As Linda prepares for her retirement in August, we are deeply grateful for all she has given to our organization and our community. Thank you, Linda, for your remarkable legacy, and thank you, Shannon, for this thoughtful tribute.

06/10/2026

We are sharing our care and concern for our community members, who are at heightened risk of harms due to the unpredictability of the strength and contents of drugs in the illegal drug supply.

This report is a continuation of the report released on June 1, 2026. Cumberland County is seeing an ongoing elevated number of daily drug toxicities, described below. Some of the toxicities require multiple doses of naloxone or are unresponsive to naloxone.

• Call 911 and/or present to hospital with medical emergencies.
• Naloxone is temporary. When naloxone is administered, please stay with the person until EHS arrives. Give another dose if the first is not effective or if the person becomes unresponsive again.
• Naloxone is only effective for opioids. It will not impact the effects of tranquilizers like medetomidine, xylazine, or other drug types. Medical help from 911 or the hospital is required.

How to Stay Safe: Let someone know, start low, and go slow.

✔ Do NOT use drugs alone – Use with someone you trust or call the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) at 1-888-688-NORS. They will stay on the phone with you while you use, so they can get you help if needed.
✔ Start with a very small amount – These drugs are stronger than what people may expect or may be used to.
✔ Have naloxone ready – Naloxone can help with opioid overdoses, but it will NOT work on other substances, such as benzodiazepines. Even if you're unsure what substance caused an overdose, always give naloxone—it won’t harm the person, but it may help if opioids are involved.
✔ Call 911 immediately for any overdose – Even if naloxone is used, emergency help is still needed.
✔ Expect the unexpected – Always assume street drugs may not be what you think and contain drugs different from or stronger than you expect. Pills that look like real medicine could be fake.
✔ Avoid mixing drugs – Combining opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol greatly increases the risk of overdose and death.
✔ Go to an overdose prevention site – If available in your area, these sites provide a safe space to use drugs with medical staff who can help in case of an emergency.

• ReFIX Halifax: 2151 Gottingen St. (902-209-9370)
• PeerSix Sydney: 75 Prince St. (902-567-1766)

If someone overdoses:

• Call 911 immediately – Tell them someone is unresponsive.
• Give naloxone if you have it. More than one dose may be needed if high potency opioids are involved. If there are no opioids, naloxone will be ineffective but will not cause harm – give it anyway.
• Stay with them and make sure they can breathe.
• If they stop breathing, perform CPR until help arrives.

Get Free Naloxone Kits: You can get naloxone for free at most pharmacies and harm reduction programs. To learn more, visit: https://mha.nshealth.ca/en/takehomenaloxoneprogram.

Looking for help?

• Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line – 1-888-429-8167
• Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868; Text CONNECT to 686868
• Mental Health and Addictions Intake Service - (Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30; Tues and Thurs until 8 pm) - 1-855-922-1122
• 211 Nova Scotia - information and referrals to community and social services: Call 2-1-1 or 1-855-466-4994; Email: [email protected]

06/10/2026

The need for our services continues to grow. Our 50/50 fundraiser is a great way to show your support and maybe even win big while making a real difference in your community: HOMESFORALL5050.COM

Draw date: Thurs, June 25, 2026

Help spread the word and share this post 📣