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SYDNEY, N.S. —

Homelessness is not only a nagging problem in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, it’s also escalating.

“It seems as soon as a bed is opened up it’s filled again quite quickly,” said Fred Deveaux, executive director, Cape Breton Community Housing Association.

“There is an increase in people needing our services for sure.”

The former homeless shelter on Margaret Street could house 11 males and seven females and was frequently at capacity.

The new emergency co-ed shelter opened on Townsend Street in December 2019 with capacity for 14 men and 14 women per side.

“We’re always close to full on the male side, which means close to 14 clients a night,” Deveaux said.

On average, they’ve had seven or eight women per night as well.

Deveaux said most of their clients are new to them, which shows the magnitude of the problem. People are always coming and going as the concentration is not on continuing to shelter someone but rather to work towards finding them independent housing.

“On the plus side, there is an increase of people finding housing.”

The shelter is now 24/7 but those accepted into the facility is under the expectation they will work with the shelter staff to end their homelessness.

Deveaux said there are many reasons why people experience homelessness, the main one is poverty, people not being able to afford everything required for an independent apartment.

“Sometimes that’s compounded with mental health, addiction issues and family problems,” he said.

Deveaux

The shelter isn’t there simply to provide emergency shelter but also solutions. Through the facility’s Housing First program, the staff works with people to try to end their homelessness by getting them into an independent apartment and figuring out what support and services are required to help the person maintain that apartment.

A few days ago, when this reporter was speaking with Ken Paul, a homeless man in Sydney, shelter staff showed up and, with compassion and respect, tried to encourage Paul to come to the shelter.

Deveaux said they can’t speak on a specific client but if they were aware of someone sleeping out in the community, couch surfing or in need of their services, they’ll send staff out to try to interact with the individual and let them know of supports and services available.

“We have a very good staff team, they are very capable and very caring.”

The Cape Breton Post found through talking with homeless people, one problem with going to a shelter is having to abandon their shopping cart — as they are unable to take them inside — which contains everything they need to survive outdoors.

Deveaux wasn’t familiar with this being an issue but said he’d look into it to see if there’s something they can do to assist with that situation.

“Through the Housing First program, we work to create conditions so you won’t have to worry about that stuff anymore, though, as you’d actually have your own permanent, independent housing.”

Another problem at one time was an individual needing an address in order to receive a cheque through the Department of Community Services. The shelter has had great success working with caseworkers in order to get people the income assistance required to get their own place to live, Deveaux said.

“That working relationship is very important so the shelter can be used as a temporary address until we can work around some of those other issues to get people off the street.”

Desiree Magnus, spokesperson for the Cape Breton Regional Police Service, said calls regarding homeless people on the streets are rare but are sometimes received from the business community when a person is loitering, often due to a mental health or addictions issues and, in some cases, prostitution.

“In response to these calls, police work with community partners to get the individuals the help they need,” she said. “In cases where we learn the individual is homeless, we would connect them with the homeless shelter.”

If people observe someone believed to be homeless and requiring support, police advise the public to contact community services and/or the homeless shelter. If anyone comes across an emergency situation where an individual is experiencing a health or safety crisis that puts themselves or others at risk, people are urged to contact the police for immediate response to get them attention needed.