A new shelter option offering meals, power, shower facilities and support is set to open at Beacon House in Lower Sackville.

The charitable organization will provide operational and wraparound supports for people living in 19 Pallet units.

Pallet is a North American leader in building quick shelter villages designed and built by people with lived experience.

“Solutions are often not as simple as finding someone an available apartment. There are many who need more than a home for stability. This could mean treatment for addiction, harm reduction services, mental health care or more,” said Trevor Boudreau, Minister of Community Services. “It is our goal to provide sheltering options that help people on the road to more permanent supportive housing options, and Pallet is another step on the path.”

The units are expected to arrive in late January.

Once assembled, they will be connected to power and water; final preparations will include installing fencing around the site before residents move in.

People living in tents will be given priority for the units.

The Department is working with partners/service providers to set up more villages in the coming months:

– 30 Pallet units on Henry Street in Sydney, with Ally Centre and New Dawn Enterprises
– 20 Pallet units at 70 Exhibition St., Kentville, with Open Arms Resource Centre
– an undetermined number of Pallet units at the Halifax Forum, 6210 Young St., with 902 Man Up.

Timing will be announced once locations have been surveyed.

The units purchased by the province are single occupancy.

Service providers for all villages will provide additional services like health and employment supports based on residents’ needs.

The province has purchased 200 units from Pallet at a cost of $7.5 million with 100 designated for the Halifax area and 100 for other communities, including Sydney and Kentville.