Over 60 New Supportive Homes Nearly Ready to Welcome Residents in Dartmouth

Now that the renovation of the old Travelodge Suites in Dartmouth, NS is nearly complete, the first tenants of the new supported housing project may start moving in before Christmas.

Work is underway to identify who will live in the building, which has been renamed the Overlook, and to hire staff to support residents around the clock.

“People living in dire circumstances will have the opportunity to live in better places,” said Jim Graham, executive director of the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Association.

The organization purchased the Dartmouth building last fall with the help of federal funds. Ultimately he can accommodate from 62 to he 65 people.

The project aims to house homeless people with serious problems such as addiction and mental health issues.

Nurses, addiction counselors, personal care staff, and housing support workers are among the professionals deployed to help people succeed in their new environment.

There is also a pop-up pharmacy and a doctor on site at certain times.

The model, based on a supportive housing strategy, is the first of its kind in Nova Scotia and has emerged at a desperate time for many during the housing crisis.

“I never dreamed there would be something of this scale,” explained Graham. “This is thanks to government funding between the rapid housing initiative and the state’s commitment to maintaining the delivery model for the long term. It’s huge.”

The roughly $12 million project, which includes about $3 million in upgrades, is expected to be completed by December 12, Graham said.

Once the building is fully tidied up, it will take about a week before people can move into private one-bedroom and single units, complete with refrigerators, microwaves, and hotplates.

There are also shared spaces, libraries and program spaces.

The North End Community Health Center, which offers 24/7 support, has been in the planning stages for several months.

We already have a core group of about six employees working on the Overlook, named after the region’s scenery, and we’re hiring even more.

“If someone visits our website, they will probably see that we currently have 14 job vacancies. I think,” said CEO Marie-France. Leblanc.

Initial plans are to accommodate 10 to 15 people when the Overlook is ready, with a gradual increase in occupancy.

We have strict standards to ensure that our residents are the ones most in need of programming.

“They could be from camps, they could be from hotels, they could be from shelters or unsafe housing. We really make sure that people have access to these services,” said LeBlanc.

Graham said supply chain issues have made it difficult to obtain some ingredients and equipment.

Currently, they are all in place, and the opening of business is also in sight. He explains that the project is important for an area where the Affordable Housing Association estimates that about 700 people are currently experiencing homelessness.