Nova Scotia to End Funding for Northstar Shelter in New Glasgow
The Nova Scotia provincial government announced it will cease funding for the Northstar emergency shelter in New Glasgow within 90 days. The decision follows a unanimous motion by the Town of New Glasgow council to shut down the facility due to safety concerns, including public drug use and assaults near the downtown location. While the province plans to seek expressions of interest for new supportive housing projects and work with residents on transition options, the shelter operator argues this jeopardizes the safety of hundreds of people who rely on its services.
The Nova Scotia provincial government has announced that it will stop funding the Northstar emergency shelter in New Glasgow within 90 days. This decision comes after the Town of New Glasgow council passed a unanimous motion last month asking the province to shut down the facility.
New Glasgow is located about 150 kilometres northeast of Halifax. According to the 2021 census, less than 10,000 people live in the town. Economic data from 2020 indicates significant financial strain in the community, with more than 4,200 households having a total income below $40,000, and more than 1,700 households earning less than $20,000.
Mayor Nancy Dicks stated that the town is dealing with serious safety issues related to the shelter. Residents have complained about public drug use, vandalism, assaults, property damage, and thefts near the downtown location. The Northstar shelter currently has 20 beds and provides over 1,000 meals a month to those experiencing poverty.
Premier Tim Houston’s Progressive Conservative government stated it is seeking expressions of interest for new supportive housing projects in the area. Erica Parrill, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Development, said detailed transition planning will happen this week.
The shelter operator argues that closing the facility jeopardizes the safety of hundreds of people who rely on its services, including meal provision and overdose reversal support. They maintain that emergency shelters remain essential when other options fail. Unhoused residents now face uncertainty regarding survival during winter and access to Naloxone administration. The town aims to address safety issues through a public safety pilot project funded by federal money.