A homeless shelter in Halifax is still a few weeks away from reopening after a fire damaged the building last month.
Souls Harbour Rescue Mission CEO Michelle Porter has released an update on repairs to the Drop-In and Life Recovery Shelter.
Porter received a call three weeks ago informing her the main building, which houses the men’s recovery shelter, was on fire.
Shelter residents were brought to a hotel and an Airbnb while the repairs got underway.
Porter says they’ve just been able to reopen their dining room with a reduced capacity of 50 diners at one time.
“Guests missed being able to enjoy a meal together – lunch bags at the door fill the hunger but don’t do much for loneliness,” a news release says. “Shelter residents continue to stay at a local Airbnb mixed in with some hotel stays as needed on weekends. Halifax is a tourist town, so finding 7 hotel rooms is extremely difficult.”
Porter says the biggest hurdle keeping the shelter from reopening is finding a fire-rated door, which is designed to slow or stop the spread of flames and smoke.
The shelter cites supply chain issues due to the pandemic as the reason for not being able to purchase a suitable door.
“This might have been a first in my career, and certainly there were some crazy moments, but I have also never felt more supported by our staff, our volunteers and the community around us.” Porter says. “Now we just have to pray in that fire door!”
The shelter is still in need of donations for its meals “to go” program and for providing temporary shelter to its residents until the main building can open again.
Donations are accepted through the fire fund on Souls Harbour’s website.
