The Village at Pine Tree Park provides emergency temporary shelter for those in the CBRM who are currently unhoused or who are at risk of becoming unhoused. It is part of a province-wide “housing first” initiative. This approach (1) keeps people alive so they can address challenges – like addiction – that can take time and treatment and long-term counselling to address, and (2) provides people with a safe foundation on which they can build.

In 2023, the provincial government purchased 200 single-unit shelters from the U.S.-based company, Pallet in response to growing homelessness across the province. The Village at Pine Tree Park opened in October, 2024 and is one of six shelter villages across Nova Scotia.

In the CBRM, the number of people experiencing homelessness — those sleeping in cars, tents, abandoned buildings and other unsafe conditions — has increased by more than 75 percent since 2021, while the number people at risk of homelessness has doubled in that time.

At The Village, there are 35 single-unit shelters and a community building that includes washrooms with showers, laundry facilities, a common area with a large kitchen and social space, and some smaller spaces for programming and support services.

For many people staying at The Village, it is the first private, safe, stable shelter they have had in a long time. Each resident meets regularly with staff to work on an individualized plan. Together, they set goals – long-term housing, employment, physical and mental wellness – and residents are connected with the resources they need to achieve those goals.

The Village at Pine Tree Park is operated by New Dawn and the Ally Centre and funded by the provincial government. Learn more about the role of shelter villages in the province’s Action on Homelessness here.