Supported Housing
Supported Housing at NECHC
Supported housing at NECHC includes the Housing First case management team, the nine buildings we own and operate, and the two partnerships we have with community non-profit housing providers. Within each program offered by Supported Housing at NECHC, we strive to create communities of healing, support housing stability, and operate high-quality housing.
- We support each location to develop a sense of community and belonging.
- We provide access to resources and activities that support health, wellbeing and healing.
- We offer opportunities for tenants to bring their skills and expertise to the forefront.
- We strive to improve the quality of our space through regular upkeep and responsiveness to maintenance requests.
- We provide permanent, supported housing with a focus on housing and life stability.
- We strive to put tenants at the center through monthly house meetings, tenant education opportunities and the Tenant Advisory Committee (TAC).
Housing First
(Case Management Team)
The Housing First team (originally called MOSH Housing First) has supported individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and other barriers to securing and maintaining housing through a mixed case management model since 2015. Tenants and clients of Housing First are offered individualized support to achieve housing and life stability, enhance independence and agency, pursue personal goals, and help create a sense of purpose, meaning, and belonging.
The team includes a Manager and Assistant Manager, first “scattered-site” Case Managers, five “place-based” Case Managers, Peer Support Workers, access to Nursing supports through MOSH, and additional support from an Occupational Therapist provided by Nova Scotia Health.
Housing First prioritizes individuals from African Nova Scotia, Indigenous, and Trans and gender-expansive communities. The team operates based on the principles of Housing First—principles that also serve as the foundation for all programs within Supported Housing at NECHC.
- Immediate access to housing with no preconditions
- Consumer choice and self-determination
- recovery-oriented approach
- Individualized, flexible support
- Social and community integration
- Harm reduction approach
Our Properties
(We provide property management and case management support)
NECHC owns nine (9) properties across Halifax and Dartmouth. Tenants are supported by a Property Management team consisting of four Property Management Assistants, along with a “place-based” Case Manager from the Housing First team.
These properties are located in Mi’kma’ki (Meeg-ma-gee), the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship”, which Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik, Penobscot, and Passamaquoddy Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1725. We are all Treaty People.
All NECHC buildings provide permanent, supported housing in a communal living (rooming house-style) environment. Tenants sign a lease that includes a Schedule B outlining ‘house rules’. Tenants are expected to pay rent, be good neighbours, and work collaboratively with each other and the support team to resolve conflicts, should they arise.
- 26 units are designated for 2SLGBTQIA+ and gender-diverse individuals, located in central Halifax.
- 6 units are reserved for Indigenous tenants, located in Dartmouth.
- 15 units are dedicated to the African Nova Scotian community, located in North End Halifax.
- An additional 56 units across Halifax and Dartmouth are open to all individuals identifying as men or masculine.
If you are a neighbour of one of our buildings and would like to get in touch, please connect with our Property Management team via email at: feedback@nechc.com. Emails will be responded to within three (3) business days. Your input is important to the long-term success of our supported housing projects.
Our Partnerships
(We provide 24/7 support)
Supported Housing AT NECHC partners with several non-profit housing providers in HRM. Through these partnerships, NECHC offers tenants 24/7 wraparound supports and services, tailored specifically to the needs of the communities being housed.
The Overlook
The Overlook is a harm reduction, peer-supported housing project with the capacity to house 60 tenants who may be actively using drugs and/or alcohol, living with chronic health conditions, have lengthy experiences with homelessness, and/or engage in sex work.
The Affordable Housing Association of NS (AHANS) acts as the landlord, while NECHC provides 24/7 on-site, on-demand harm reduction supports to tenants.
The Overlook team includes:
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Harm Reduction Housing Workers
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Nursing staff
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A Harm Reduction Counselor
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An Indigenous Wellness Coordinator
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An End-of-Life Care Coordinator
How to Apply
NECHC supports the Coordinated Access Process for individuals experiencing homelessness in HRM. This process was adopted by the community in 2018.
We do not accept referrals for housing or case management directly and do not maintain an independent waitlist.
To “apply” for a vacant unit or case management caseload, please complete a By-Name List (BNL) Referral.
NECHC staff do not complete BNL referrals with individuals. To complete a BNL referral, please contact staff at one of the following locations:
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Adsum – The Alders
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Shelter Nova Scotia – Drop-In Centre
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Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre
You can also connect with an outreach worker from one of the Outreach Teams, operated by Shelter Nova Scotia, HRM, and Welcome Housing.
For contact information and locations, please call 211.
If you have questions about the Coordinated Access System or the BNL Referral, please contact the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia (AHANS). AHANS manages this system on behalf of the community and provides training for staff who wish to complete BNL referrals with individuals.
AHANS can be reached by phone at 902-406-4276 or by email at info@ahans.ca.
For More Information
Supported Housing @ NECHC is offering community partners the opportunity to learn more about our supported housing and case management services.
If you are interested in having NECHC staff speak with your team, please contact us at supportedhousing@nechc.com.
If you are a community partner with a specific question, please reach out directly to the appropriate manager.
Ty Silver (they/them) – Manager, Housing First | tsilver@nechc.com
Heather Jarvis (she/her) – Manager, The Overlook | hjarvis@nechc.com
Peter Arsenault (he/him) – Manager, Residential Services | parsenault@nechc.com
EJ Davis (he/him) – Director, Supported Housing | ejdavis@nechc.com
