Though its doors closed in May of last year, one of Halifax’s historic parishes has reopened with a new purpose, offering a warm welcome to the city’s most vulnerable through a temporary basement homeless shelter.

Thanks to a new collaboration between the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth and the Government of Nova Scotia, the lower level of the former St. Patrick’s Church in downtown Halifax can now house more than 30 individuals seeking refuge from the streets.

It’s a full circle moment for the recently closed church, with the basement having been used in the winter months by the Out of the Cold Community Association Halifax to provide overnight shelter in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

John Stevens, manager of pastoral life and new evangelization for the archdiocese, credits the former use of the church’s basement for the smooth transition.

“It really is an ideal situation because the space already had bathrooms with showers and even a kitchen facility. We are super grateful to be able to house something like this as one of our pastoral priorities has always been addressing homelessness,” he said.

“Like a lot of cities in Canada, Halifax is no different. There are tent encampments, people who can't afford their rent, and so to be able to have indoor spaces that are heated, offer two meals a day, have private cubicles for each person sleeping and even a washer and dryer is just a great resource for a community that needs it.”

The shelter officially opened its doors on Feb. 28 after  the province reached out to the archdiocese about potential surplus properties being available to shelter the unhoused. With day-to-day operations of the shelter being overseen by Soul’s Harbour Rescue Mission, a local organization that offers emergency help such as food, clothing, shelter and comfort to the vulnerable, the shelter is expected to remain open until August.

Despite only being in operation for a few weeks, its effects are already being felt by those making use of the space.

“We have 33 beds available, each representing someone who now has a warm, safe place to sleep, something we don’t take for granted,” Marni Yuke, chief program officer with Soul’s Harbour, wrote in an email to The Catholic Register.

“There is a real sense of community in the shelter. The men are settling in and starting to feel at home. It’s been heartwarming to see them not just receiving help but also stepping up to help each other whether it’s carrying groceries, tidying up a bunk for a new arrival or simply sharing a conversation over a game. More than just a shelter, this space is becoming a place of connection, dignity and hope.” 

Last June, the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) posted an Order to Comply for the church’s immediate clearance, around the same time Halifax Archbishop Brian Dunn announced the church would close on the recommendations of parish leadership.

With a second closure notice announced, St. Patrick’s shut its doors temporarily on June 21, with a mandatory zero capacity order in place due to structural issues with the church’s steeple and tower.

Stevens said extensive measures were taken to ensure the church’s new operations were both safe and timely.

“(St. Patrick’s) had a lot of different work that needed to be done in terms of brickwork, stonework, things that were loose and in danger of falling off. We removed some pieces, put in anchors on the bricks and erected scaffolding over the sidewalk and entrance to protect from any additional falling debris,” he said.

The building reopened on Feb. 12 after various negotiations with engineering consultants and local bricklayers. Stevens again praised the speed of the re-opening process, thankful his team was able to complete the changes amidst winter months that sees an increase in need for such shelters.

“When the bishop first named four pastoral priorities and one of them was homelessness, I said to him that I would like to be involved heavily in that one. I'm from here, I've seen the changes, I see the encampments and drive by them every day and wanted to be part of doing something about it,” Stevens said.

Having ruled out St. Patrick’s official  reopening as an active parish, Stevens confirmed the office’s shared hopes of  continuing to ensure the space remains operational to house initiatives that service the broader community.

It’s a plan Yuke and the rest of the team at Soul’s Harbour can also get behind.

“Every person’s journey is different, and not every shelter is the right fit for everyone. By offering more options, we can ensure that no one is left out, no matter their past experiences or personal circumstances. At the end of the day, what truly matters is that everyone has a safe place to rest, to be treated with kindness, and to know that someone cares if they make it through the night into a better tomorrow,” she said.