Province announces $500K for community groups helping at-risk, homeless people

The Nova Scotia government says it will put more money towardhelpingpeople struggling financially to escape homelessness or to avoid becoming homeless.

In a news release on Wednesday, the province said it would providea total of $500,000 in additional funds to 14 community organizations.

Chebecto Connections is one of the groups receiving a portion ofthe money. It supports people from Armdale to the Pennants in the Halifax area. But executive director Christina Carter said they've also been getting calls for help from other parts of Halifax,like Bedford and Lower Sackville.

"The funds would be used to pay off power bills so that people can secure housing or pay a damage deposit, help with moving costs so that they can secure housing or pay the rental arrears so that they don't get evicted," Carter said.

"With the housing subsidy, it can take up to three to four months to get approved. So obviously people get really behind on their bills. And soit's just trying to ... put them on an even playing field, in a sense."

On Wednesday, Carter said shereceived a call from a man who said he had contacted a bunch of other placesbefore Chebucto Connections to gethelp with subsidy papers. Carter said the man started crying when they told him they could help.

"It's heartbreaking, so having these funds are going to be able to allow us to expand, so that we're able to reach more people," Carter said.

Chebucto Connections also helps people come up with aplan to help people avoid getting behind on their bills in future by budgeting, for example, or by accessing programs that help reduce their living costs.

"I can pay your rent, but can you pay it next month? Because we can't pay it every month, right?So it really is trying to work with thefamily or individual to come up with something that works and is sustainable," she said.

The full list of funding recipients is as follows:

• 902ManUp (Halifax).
• Adsum for Women and Children (Halifax).
• Beacon House (Halifax).
• Cape Breton Community Housing Association (Cape Breton Regional Municipality).
• Chebucto Connections (Halifax).
• Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Society (Halifax).
• Portal Youth Outreach Association (Kentville).
• Shelter Nova Scotia (Halifax).
• South Shore Open Doors Association (Bridgewater and Queens County).
• Truro Housing Outreach Society (Truro).
• Viola's Place Society (New Glasgow).
• Welcome Housing (Halifax).
• YMCA of Cape Breton (Port Hawkesbury).
• YMCA of Cumberland (Amherst).