Shelter Nova Scotia can't keep up with demand for beds as rental costs rise

Every day, Linda Wilson hears from more and more peoplewho fearrising rents in Nova Scotia will leave them homeless.

"People are trying to be proactive. They're calling in advanceasking us about shelter beds," Wilson, the executive director of Shelter Nova Scotia,told CBC Radio's Information Morning on Monday.

"Some who are working, who are calling and saying, 'I'm afraid I'm going to be homeless in January or February. Can you help?'"

But Wilson said the heartbreaking reality is that her organization can't help everybody.

Shelter Nova Scotia operatestwo emergency shelters in Halifax. The women's shelter, Barry House,now has 17 beds. Metro Turning Point, a shelter for men, dropped to 30 beds from 55 since the start of the pandemic.

About 30 people are turned away every day, Wilsonsaid.

"It's certainly the hardest time that we've ever seen," she said.

Meanwhile, the government money and energy that was spent in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic has largely dried up, said Wilson.

She said non-profit organizations like hers are now left to figureout what to do as winter approaches.

People are trying to be proactive. They're calling in advanceasking us about shelter beds.- Linda Wilson, Shelter Nova Scotia

Many renters and advocates say Nova ScotiaHalifax, in particularis facing a housing crisis with record-low vacancy rates and risingcosts.

CBC Radio's Information Morning is taking a deep dive into these issues and what can be done about them in its new seriesUnaffordable or Unfit: Nova Scotia's Housing Challenge.

The serieswill explore the impact a lack of affordable housing has on renters, including people like Fabian Donovan, 63, who lives in an apartment inSpryfield.

Donovan called the building where he lives with a roommate"a total mess," with a laundry room floor that feels like it's ready to collapse.

"I believe, and a lot of people believe, that they're trying to bring the buildings down so people get sick of it and move out," he said."Where are we going to move to?"

Not just a Halifax problem

It's a question people outside of the Halifax area are asking, too, said Amanda Piccott, a housing support worker with theTruro Homeless Outreach Society.

She said it costsbetween $800 and $1,000 for a one-bedroom in Truro, while income assistance is around $850 a month.

"We have the rental units that are in very poor condition. Landlords are increasing the rent by hundreds of dollars it's used as an eviction tactic," she said.

Jim Graham, executive director of the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia, said there's no one culprit for the current housing challenges facing Nova Scotia.

• More coverage of CBC Information Morning's housing series

He pointed to therapidly growing population of Halifax, risingunemployment due to COVID-19, and an insufficient social welfare system.

"All of these factors have arrived at once to shine a pretty bright light on what's been a growing problem over time."

Listen to CBC Information Morning'sfull interview with Linda Wilson, Jim Graham and Amanda Piccott: