Shelters & Housing by region
Tenants Facing Domestic Violence
Visit this page to learn more about how to end year-to-year or fixed-term leases early without financial penalty, through the Department of Justice’s Victim Services program.
1-888-470-0773
Canada-Nova Scotia Targeted Housing Benefit (CNSTHB) Subsidy
Provides funding directly to people in need so they can choose their own housing and pay a portion of their housing costs. Funding for the CNSTHB is available to renters who pay more than 30$ of their pre-tax household income on rent, and homeowners who pay more than 50% of their pre-tax household income on their housing costs.
1-902-424-7711
1-833-424-7711 (toll free)
housingsupplements@novascotia.ca
Halifax Regional Municipality
Alice House
Offers safe second-stage housing and supportive counselling for women and children in Nova Scotia. Housing options range from one to four bedroom units within Halifax Regional Municipality, with rent geared to income, security measures in place, and support finding furniture, moving arrangements, and help settling in. Alice House also offers counselling and programs for women, children & youth, as well as education on intimate partner violence.
Various Halifax Regional Municipality locations
1-902-466-8459
livesafe@alicehouse.ca
Bryony House
Bryony House is a 24-bed shelter for women and children who seek safe and secure refuge from an abusive relationship. They offer a 24-hour crisis line run by their dedicated counsellors, provide individual and/or group supportive counselling, public education, advocacy and referrals.
Various Halifax Regional Municipality locations
1-902-423-7183 (crisis line)
staff@bryonyhouse.ca
Adsum for Women and Children
Provides emergency shelter, crisis support, clothing, meals, and household items to people in need. Client support workers and social workers work with women and trans people to help identify barriers to affordable housing, access community resources and find & maintain safe housing. This can involve support, advocacy, and referrals to outside organizations.
Various Halifax Regional Municipality locations
1-902-423-5049
adsum@adsumforwomen.org
Barry House
Offers a 17-bed emergency shelter that serves individuals who identify as female or are gender diverse, all 16 years of age and older. In-house services include three meals a day, phone and laundry, personal care & comfort items, and assistance in securing independent housing.
2706 Gottingen Street, Halifax
1-902-422-8324
Metro Turning Point
A harm reduction, 30-bed emergency shelter for individuals who identify as male or are gender diverse. In-house services include a private locker, 2-3 meals daily, access to a refrigerator, phone and laundry, personal care & comfort items, and assistance in securing independent housing.
2170 Barrington Street, Halifax
1-902-420-3282
Salvation Army Men's Shelter
Salvation Army is a Christian organization whose Halifax location offers up to 40 beds for men ages 19 and up. Their services include a dining hall, addictions centre, a chapel, halfway house, food bank, clothing, and other community programs.
2044 Gottingen Street, Halifax
1-902-422-2363
office@halifaxcentreofhope.ca
Out of the Cold
Supports individuals (16+) and couples of all genders who are unhoused or precariously housed and experience a variety of barriers to housing. They host 25 folks living in 4 shared homes with private rooms, a programming space and a communal area. Wrap-around housing supports are available to those not housed by Out of the Cold, including being connected to housing resources and free showers.
1-902-830-4821
Free showers:
7 Church Street, Dartmouth
Tuesday 12am-3pm
Thursday 12am-3pm
Phoenix Youth Shelter
Provides free, safe, emergency accommodations to youth ages 16-24. The shelter supplies daily essentials (food, clothing, shelter, etc) around the clock to youth who seek support. All residents have access to daily programming and are connected with a Key Worker who provides on-going guidance and support to help residents meet their identified goals.
1094 Tower Road, Halifax
1-902-446-4663
1-888-878-5088 (toll free)
shelter@phoenixyouth.ca
Cape Breton Region
Waycobah Family Healing Centre
Offers protection, safety, shelter, and basic life necessities to women and children. Services include support and information to develop and maintain a healthful and violent-free lifestyle, individual and group support, outreach services, community education, and referrals. Waycobah Family Healing Centre serves all First Nations on Cape Breton Island and Paq’tnkek First Nation.
Sydney & Cape Breton locations
1-902-756-3440
Beverly.walker@novascotia.ca
Elizabeth Fry's Satellite Apartment Program
A community based residential facility that provides a housing option for women who are on conditional release and/or are experiencing a transition in their lives and are in need of a stable living environment. Their facility provides 24/7 supervised staff to work with women in developing tools needed to stabilize their lives.
Cape Breton Region
1-902-562-8271
1-902-539-6165
efrycb@eastlink.ca
Leeside Transition House
Serving Richmond and Inverness Counties & the Town of Port Hawkesbury, this is a safe shelter for abused women and their children with 24-hour staffing. They offer a 24-hour crisis phone line, support counselling, help in understanding legal & social service systems, a support group & an outreach worker.
Port Hawkesbury
1-902-625-1990 (crisis line)
director@leesidesociety.ca
Antigonish County
Tearmann House
A 15 bed shelter that offers support, information, understanding and practical assistance to abused women and their children. Stays at Tearmann House are 6 weeks maximum so it is not a viable option for longer-term housing. Staff are on-site 24 hours a day, offering group programs and resident meetings throughout the week. Tearmann serves New Glasgow, Pictou, Antigonish & Guysborough Counties.
New Glasgow
1-902-752-0132
1-888-831-0330
info@tearmann.ca
Naomi Society
Offers overnight shelter and second stage housing to women, adolescents, and children alongside referral, outreach, and counselling supports. Staff can offer safety planning, accompaniment to court and legal appointments and advocacy free of charge.
103-133 Church Street, Antigonish
1-902-863-3807
info@naomisociety.ca
Cumberland, Colchester, & East Hants Counties (CCEH)
Millbrook Family Healing Centre
One of two shelters in Nova Scotia designed to serve First Nation People. Their culturally relevant holistic programming is available to all First Nation men, women and children who have experienced family violence. Services include support and information to develop and maintain a healthful and violent-free lifestyle, individual and group support, outreach services, community education, and referrals. Millbrook Family Healing Centre serves all First Nations on mainland Nova Scotia except Paq’tnkek First Nation.
Truro Area
1-902-893-8483
Beverly.walker@novascotia.ca
Third Place Transition House
A 10-bed shelter that offers support services for women and children fleeing abuse and violence. Stays at Third Place are 6 weeks maximum, so it is not a viable option for longer-term housing. Services include counselling supports, advocacy, outreach, referrals, family support, public education, and art-based programming.
Truro Area
1-902-893-3232
1-800-565-4878 (toll free)
Autumn House
Offers shelter services for women and children leaving intimate partner violence, as well as outreach, referral, and counselling supports for women, men, & children. Their line also operates as a 24-hour crisis line for those dealing with abusive relationships. Serves Cumberland County.
Amherst Area
1-902667-1200 (crisis line)
info@autumnhouse.ca
Chrysalis House Association
Offers shelter services and transitional support to women and their children who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing violence and abuse. Services also include a 24-hour crisis line, outreach, resource navigation, and public education sessions. Serves West Hants, Kings, and Annapolis Counties.
Kentville Area
1-902-679-1922 (crisis line)
bettyk@chrysalishouse.ca
Tri-County
Juniper House
Offers a 15-bed shelter for women and children who have experienced abuse. They offer a 15-bed shelter to women in Yarmouth, Digby and Shelburne Counties. Additional services include a 24-hour crisis line, supportive counselling, programming, advocacy, referrals and outreach.
Yarmouth Area
1-902-742-8689 (crisis line)
1-800-266-4087 (toll free)
juniperhouse@juniperhouse.ca
Supportive Housing Youth Focus Team (SHYFT)
Offers temporary housing for up to seven youth at one time (ages 16-24). In addition to residential services, they offer programming, workshops, hygiene and kitchen facilities, outreach services, and referrals. Serves homeless and at-risk youth in Digby, Shelburne and Yarmouth counties.
6 Trinity Place, Yarmouth
1-902-881-3111 (crisis line)
1-855-781-3111 (toll free)
ed@shyft.ca
South Shore
Harbour House
Offers a 15 bed shelter and counselling support for women and their dependent children who are fleeing situations of intimate partner violence. Additional services include outreach, school programming, child and youth counselling, and a 24-hour crisis line.
Bridgewater Area
1-902-543-3999 (crisis line)
1-902-514-4019 (text line)
1-888-543-3999 (toll free)
thw@harbour-house.ca