Latest news with #socialdevelopment
CBC
4 days ago
- General
- CBC
More people with disabilities are in temporary housing despite N.S. plan
There's been a surge in the number of Nova Scotians with complex disabilities stuck in temporary housing, according to recent figures released by the province. This rise in what are called "temporary shelter arrangements," or TSAs, operated by for-profit and non-profit agencies has occurred despite a plan by the province to decrease their use over the past two years. The Department of Social Development describes the temporary housing as being needed whenever a person with a complex disability is in urgent need of housing, and options for a permanent home have been "explored and exhausted." Usually, the person is placed in an apartment, with one-on-one care, but without a long-term plan to improve their lives. "The infrastructure to shift away from the temporary model is slow. It's not happening as quickly as anticipated," said Harman Singh, director of Breton Ability Centre — a non-profit agency in Sydney, N.S., that houses people with disabilities, which has been asked to oversee eight people in temporary shelters. 5-year plan The province introduced a sweeping, five-year reform plan for the care and housing of people with disabilities in 2023. It was the result of a landmark court decision that found there was systemic discrimination against people with disabilities. The plan called for a sharp decrease in the number of people with disabilities in temporary housing arrangements by 2025 but the opposite has occurred. The recent government update on the plan, referred to as "The Remedy," indicated there were 89 people in the temporary arrangements in early 2024, but as of April 1 this year, there was a 49 per cent increase to 146 people. This contrasts with the plan's target of reducing the number of people in temporary housing by 40. Singh said Breton Ability is gradually closing down its larger facility with 68 residents but has been asked to increase temporary shelter arrangements. Some of the arrangements are lasting for years, she added. The lack of permanent solutions isn't working well, as it makes it difficult to attract staff or to spend money needed to ensure the housing arrangements are suitable, she said. For example, Singh said in one case her agency has been housing a person in a temporary apartment since 2021, but it has been unable to invest in much-needed upgrades due to uncertainty about whether they are expected to stay there permanently. If the arrangement were permanent, "we could look at long-term renovations to the house, seek grants from different departments and we would look to raise funds to make the backyard more suitable ... we would look at all these different factors and make it better," said Singh. Delays in hiring, training staff Data released to The Canadian Press through the Freedom of Information Act from January 2024 to last month show the majority of temporary shelter arrangements were provided by five private-sector agencies for 94 people. They received $34 million in 2024, and $20 million for half of 2025, according to the documents. Some people in TSAs cost about $150,000 to up to about $500,000 annually, the records say. However, a separate freedom of information response from the Department of Social Development to The Canadian Press for the same period says there were no records of "audits or reports on safety and quality of care" done on these private agencies. They also said they wouldn't provide estimates of how long people are remaining in the TSAs. In its recent annual report on the plan, the province said it wasn't meeting deadlines for decreasing the numbers because there had been delays in hiring and training staff to oversee the conversion of the system. The department said in an email Friday that so far 24 of the 146 people in the temporary shelter arrangements — about 16 per cent of the total — have been assigned staff to plan their future care and placements in the community. Maria Medioli, director of the provincial disability support program, said in an interview Thursday that the five-year plan — which has committed over $200 million in spending over the first two years — is the first major effort to deal with the TSA issue. Medioli said some of the growth in TSA numbers has been the result of people with "deeply complex issues" being discharged by a care home or a hospital without any destination, and the alternative is homelessness. Asked about oversight of service providers, Medioli said the department receives financial statements from the private-sector service providers but doesn't "generally audit providers unless there is a reason." She added there has been one complaint of financial irregularities by a private-sector provider that is being investigated, but no complaints of safety or quality problems. "I don't like them [TSAs]. They are temporary.... It was done in an emergency and we didn't have the infrastructure to make it anything but temporary. Through the [plan] we're building that infrastructure," she said. Growing numbers a concern However, Kim Long, vice chair of the Disability Rights Coalition, said in an interview Thursday that her group is concerned by the growing numbers. "I'd like to know where [the government] is in the process of establishing a baseline of health and safety.... The thing that we're most concerned about is what is that experience [of living in a temporary shelter arrangement] like?" Long said her advocacy organization wants to hear directly from families and people in temporary shelter arrangements, to learn how the arrangements work and "what they are experiencing." "We need to hear in order to get the full story behind the numbers," she said.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
N.S. reform of care of people with disabilities behind in housing ‘complex' cases
HALIFAX — There's been a surge in the number of Nova Scotians with complex disabilities stuck in temporary housing, according to recent figures released by the province. This rise in what are called 'temporary shelter arrangements,' or TSAs, operated by for-profit and non-profit agencies has occurred despite a plan by the province to decrease their use over the past two years. The Department of Social Development describes the temporary housing as being needed whenever a person with a complex disability is in urgent need of housing, and options for a permanent home have been 'explored and exhausted.' Usually, the person is placed in an apartment, with one-on-one care, but without a long-term plan to improve their lives. 'The infrastructure to shift away from the temporary model is slow. It's not happening as quickly as anticipated,' said Harman Singh, director of Breton Ability Centre — a non-profit agency in Sydney, N.S. that houses people with disabilities, which has been asked to oversee eight people in temporary shelters. The province introduced a sweeping, five-year reform plan for the care and housing of people with disabilities in 2023. It was the result of a landmark court decision that found there was systemic discrimination against people with disabilities. The plan called for a sharp decrease in the number of people with disabilities in temporary housing arrangements by 2025 but the opposite has occurred. The recent government update on the plan, referred to as 'The Remedy,' indicated there were 89 people in the temporary arrangements in early 2024, but as of April 1 this year, there was a 49 per cent increase to 146 people. This contrasts with the plan's target of reducing the number of people in temporary housing by 40. Singh said Breton Ability is gradually closing down its larger facility with 68 residents but has been asked to increase temporary shelter arrangements. Some of the arrangements are lasting for years, she added. The lack of permanent solutions isn't working well, as it makes it difficult to attract staff or to spend money needed to ensure the housing arrangements are suitable, she said. For example, Singh said in one case her agency has been housing a person in a temporary apartment since 2021, but it has been unable to invest in much-needed upgrades due to uncertainty about whether they are expected to stay there permanently. If the arrangement were permanent, 'we could look at long-term renovations to the house, seek grants from different departments and we would look to raise funds to make the backyard more suitable ... we would look at all these different factors and make it better,' said Singh. Data released to The Canadian Press through the Freedom of Information Act from January 2024 to last month show the majority of temporary shelter arrangements were provided by five private-sector agencies for 94 people. They received $34 million in 2024, and $20 million for half of 2025, according to the documents. Some people in TSAs cost about $150,000 to up to about $500,000 annually, the records say. However, a separate freedom of information response from the Department of Social Development to The Canadian Press for the same period says there were no records of 'audits or reports on safety and quality of care' done on these private agencies. They also said they wouldn't provide estimates of how long people are remaining in the TSAs. In its recent annual report on the plan, the province said it wasn't meeting deadlines for decreasing the numbers because there had been delays in hiring and training staff to oversee the conversion of the system. The department said in an email Friday that so far 24 of the 146 people in the temporary shelter arrangements — about 16 per cent of the total — have been assigned staff to plan their future care and placements in the community. Maria Medioli, director of the provincial disability support program, said in an interview Thursday that the five-year plan — which has committed over $200 million in spending over the first two years — is the first major effort to deal with the TSA issue. Medioli said some of the growth in TSA numbers has been the result of people with 'deeply complex issues' being discharged by a care home or a hospital without any destination, and the alternative is homelessness. Asked about oversight of service providers, Medioli said the department receives financial statements from the private-sector service providers but doesn't 'generally audit providers unless there is a reason.' She added there has been one complaint of financial irregularities by a private-sector provider that is being investigated, but no complaints of safety or quality problems. 'I don't like them (TSAs). They are temporary. ... It was done in an emergency and we didn't have the infrastructure to make it anything but temporary. Through the (plan) we're building that infrastructure,' she said. However, Kim Long, vice chair of the Disability Rights Coalition, said in an interview Thursday that her group is concerned by the growing numbers. 'I'd like to know where (the government) is in the process of establishing a baseline of health and safety. ... The thing that we're most concerned about is what is that experience (of living in a temporary shelter arrangement) like?' Long said her advocacy organization wants to hear directly from families and people in temporary shelter arrangements, to learn how the arrangements work and 'what they are experiencing.' 'We need to hear in order to get the full story behind the numbers,' she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2025. By Michael Tutton
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
N.S. reform of care of people with disabilities behind in housing 'complex' cases
HALIFAX — There's been a surge in the number of Nova Scotians with complex disabilities stuck in temporary housing, according to recent figures released by the province. This rise in what are called "temporary shelter arrangements," or TSAs, operated by for-profit and non-profit agencies has occurred despite a plan by the province to decrease their use over the past two years. The Department of Social Development describes the temporary housing as being needed whenever a person with a complex disability is in urgent need of housing, and options for a permanent home have been "explored and exhausted." Usually, the person is placed in an apartment, with one-on-one care, but without a long-term plan to improve their lives. "The infrastructure to shift away from the temporary model is slow. It's not happening as quickly as anticipated," said Harman Singh, director of Breton Ability Centre — a non-profit agency in Sydney, N.S. that houses people with disabilities, which has been asked to oversee eight people in temporary shelters. The province introduced a sweeping, five-year reform plan for the care and housing of people with disabilities in 2023. It was the result of a landmark court decision that found there was systemic discrimination against people with disabilities. The plan called for a sharp decrease in the number of people with disabilities in temporary housing arrangements by 2025 but the opposite has occurred. The recent government update on the plan, referred to as "The Remedy," indicated there were 89 people in the temporary arrangements in early 2024, but as of April 1 this year, there was a 49 per cent increase to 146 people. This contrasts with the plan's target of reducing the number of people in temporary housing by 40. Singh said Breton Ability is gradually closing down its larger facility with 68 residents but has been asked to increase temporary shelter arrangements. Some of the arrangements are lasting for years, she added. The lack of permanent solutions isn't working well, as it makes it difficult to attract staff or to spend money needed to ensure the housing arrangements are suitable, she said. For example, Singh said in one case her agency has been housing a person in a temporary apartment since 2021, but it has been unable to invest in much-needed upgrades due to uncertainty about whether they are expected to stay there permanently. If the arrangement were permanent, "we could look at long-term renovations to the house, seek grants from different departments and we would look to raise funds to make the backyard more suitable ... we would look at all these different factors and make it better," said Singh. Data released to The Canadian Press through the Freedom of Information Act from January 2024 to last month show the majority of temporary shelter arrangements were provided by five private-sector agencies for 94 people. They received $34 million in 2024, and $20 million for half of 2025, according to the documents. Some people in TSAs cost about $150,000 to up to about $500,000 annually, the records say. However, a separate freedom of information response from the Department of Social Development to The Canadian Press for the same period says there were no records of "audits or reports on safety and quality of care" done on these private agencies. They also said they wouldn't provide estimates of how long people are remaining in the TSAs. In its recent annual report on the plan, the province said it wasn't meeting deadlines for decreasing the numbers because there had been delays in hiring and training staff to oversee the conversion of the system. The department said in an email Friday that so far 24 of the 146 people in the temporary shelter arrangements — about 16 per cent of the total — have been assigned staff to plan their future care and placements in the community. Maria Medioli, director of the provincial disability support program, said in an interview Thursday that the five-year plan — which has committed over $200 million in spending over the first two years — is the first major effort to deal with the TSA issue. Medioli said some of the growth in TSA numbers has been the result of people with "deeply complex issues" being discharged by a care home or a hospital without any destination, and the alternative is homelessness. Asked about oversight of service providers, Medioli said the department receives financial statements from the private-sector service providers but doesn't "generally audit providers unless there is a reason." She added there has been one complaint of financial irregularities by a private-sector provider that is being investigated, but no complaints of safety or quality problems. "I don't like them (TSAs). They are temporary. ... It was done in an emergency and we didn't have the infrastructure to make it anything but temporary. Through the (plan) we're building that infrastructure," she said. However, Kim Long, vice chair of the Disability Rights Coalition, said in an interview Thursday that her group is concerned by the growing numbers. "I'd like to know where (the government) is in the process of establishing a baseline of health and safety. ... The thing that we're most concerned about is what is that experience (of living in a temporary shelter arrangement) like?" Long said her advocacy organization wants to hear directly from families and people in temporary shelter arrangements, to learn how the arrangements work and "what they are experiencing." "We need to hear in order to get the full story behind the numbers," she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2025. Michael Tutton, The Canadian Press Sign in to access your portfolio
RNZ News
09-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- RNZ News
The Big Sleepout is back after a five-year pause
life and society Auckland 22 minutes ago After a pause for five years the Big Sleepout - an event aimed at raising awareness and funds to tackle homelessness - is back. Tonight, leaders from the business and community sector will be spending a night sleeping rough to highlight the cause and get a first hand understanding of homeless. The event is run by Lifewise, an Auckland based social development organisation, and is being reinvigorated as the number of homeless people on the city's downtown streets is on the rise. This year, Auckland Council, working with service providers, counted 653 people sleeping rough in the city, up from 498 noted in the census in 2018. Similar increases in homelessness have been reported from other parts of the country. Lifewise chair Pam Elgar joins Kathryn to discuss why Lifewise is bringing back the Big Sleepout.
CBC
09-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
N.S. splits from non-profit operator of supportive housing sites in Halifax
The Nova Scotia government has suddenly severed ties with a non-profit group that was operating two modular housing sites in the Halifax area. The Department of Opportunities and Social Development confirmed to CBC News that it ended its contract with Out of the Cold on Tuesday, citing "serious and persistent concerns related to safety, infrastructure, and the quality of services and supports available to residents." The department did not explain the concerns in detail, except to say they spent "several years" trying to work with Out of the Cold to address them before arriving at the decision to part ways. "Ending the contract was not a decision made lightly — it reflects our responsibility to act in the best interests of the people we serve and to ensure accountability for the taxpayers' investment," the department said. Out of the Cold has run two modular, supportive housing sites since they opened in 2022 in response to surging rates of homelessness, rising rents and a low vacancy rate. The Halifax site, next to the Centennial pool on Cogswell Street, has capacity for 38 people, and the Dartmouth site, on Church Street near Alderney Landing, has capacity for 26. Halifax Regional Municipality owns the land, paid for construction of the units and continues to cover in-kind services such as utilities and building maintenance. The province is responsible for supporting residents, including providing meals and mental health and addiction support. New operator, new model The province has replaced Out of the Cold with the Atlantic Community Shelter Society, which runs some of the other supportive housing sites that have been built in recent years, including the Pallet shelters. "ACSS has a strong track record for service delivery in Nova Scotia and brings a compassionate, sustainable approach that aligns with our commitment to the well-being and long-term success of Nova Scotians experiencing homelessness," the province said in a statement. The change in service providers is coupled with a change in how the two sites will function. Suzanne Ley, the executive director of employment support and income assistance with the Department of Opportunities and Social Development, sent an email to some local housing support organizations Tuesday notifying them of the change. A copy of that email was shared with CBC News. Ley said the two sites are transitioning to a "temporary supportive housing model." "This model provides short-term, low-barrier, and flexible accommodations that help residents take meaningful steps toward stable, permanent housing," Ley said. According to Out of the Cold's website, the sites have, until now, been operating as "permanent housing." The department did not respond before publication to a request for more information about how long residents can stay under the new model. In her email, Ley said the province has given funding to Out of the Cold "to ensure appropriate compensation for all staff." She said Out of the Cold staff will be able to apply for positions with the new operator.
