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Metro Turning
Point Centre has over 30 years experience working with friends and neighbours
experiencing homelessness.
Metro
Turning Point Centre began as the Halifax Neighborhood Society and the North
End Neighborhood Program, located in a series of buildings on Brunswick St N.
In the early years, our activity with and for homeless men was part of
the community centre in the north end of Halifax.
In August 1975, the Society’s activities
changed from a community drop-in program to Support Services and
Trusteeship programs for men over 35 experiencing homelessness. Program
management and development was first under an advisory committee of the
Halifax Social Planning Department.
In December 1979, the advisory committee set
up our emergency Night Shelter program in the same building as the day
Support Services program on Brunswick
St N.
In March 1987, we moved into 2155 Barrington St,
and changed our name to Metro Turning Point. Our building had
capacity to provide 50 men over 16 years old with a dry, warm bed in a
safe overnight shelter.
In 2000, we moved into our present location at 2170 Barrington St,
directly across the street from our old building.
In October 2006, we began operating from a
harm reduction perspective, meaning that we choose not to make the
primary feature of our relationship with people their addiction, mental
health diagnosis, or poverty.
Instead, we offer services to people and build relationship based
on trust and truth. We won’t turn
away someone who is intoxicated, yet safely able to get to bed, but we
will keep caring and building relationship that offers hope and that
facilitates recovery.
In January
2009 Metro
Turning Point Centre merged with Saint
Leonard’s Society of Nova
Scotia, resulting in increased services and better capacity
to assist people with building transitions
Now this 24/7 facility provides 75
men with safe overnight accommodation in the Night Shelter program. STEP
(Trusteeship) helps manage over 150 budgets for men, women, and
families – helping manage their money
helps them keep their housing. Support Services
continues to help people making over 2000 referrals per year to
housing and community services they need. Services will continue to develop with
help from community!
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