Nova Scotia to End Funding for Northstar Shelter After 90-Day Transition
The Nova Scotia government announced it will cease provincial funding for the Northstar Shelter in New Glasgow after a 90-day transition period, following community complaints and a unanimous council vote. While officials plan to shift toward supportive housing models, shelter leadership warns of potential harm to residents and questions the feasibility of finding alternatives within the short timeframe.
The Nova Scotia government announced on Wednesday, September 23, that provincial funding for the Northstar Shelter in New Glasgow will end following a 90-day transition period. The decision comes after months of community complaints regarding drug use, vandalism, and theft near the facility, as well as a unanimous vote by the Town of New Glasgow council last month requesting the shelter's immediate closure.
Deputy Mayor Dawn Peters stated that police have spent more than $1 million addressing issues related to the shelter. In response to these concerns, Social Development Minister Susan Corkum-Greek announced a call for expressions of interest for supportive housing projects in Pictou, Lunenburg, and Kings counties. The province intends to replace the emergency shelter model with these supportive housing options to better address complex homelessness needs.
During the 90-day transition, a team of outreach workers and professionals will work with shelter guests to identify alternate housing and supports. However, shelter leadership has expressed skepticism about the timeline. Executive Director Lisa Deyoung warned of potential harm to residents if adequate alternatives are not secured quickly. Board chair Dwayne Wright also questioned whether sufficient support systems could be established within three months.
Northstar Shelter, formerly known as Viola’s Place, opened in 2018 and expanded in 2022. It operates 20 beds and provides services to hundreds of other people experiencing housing insecurity or struggling with utilities and rent. Despite the funding cut, Deyoung stated that the shelter intends to remain open past the 90-day transition period.
Tensions between the shelter and the province have escalated further due to conflicting narratives regarding the timing of the decision. Deyoung claims the funding cut occurred one day after the shelter refused a provincial demand to evict a resident who had committed a crime against an influential family in Pictou County. The Department of Opportunities and Social Development denied that the funding decision was connected to any specific individual or incident, maintaining that the move is part of a broader strategic shift.