More Supportive Housing for Families at The Rose
The new units at Adsum for Women & Children are fully furnished two- and four-bedroom apartments, complete with kitchen appliances and full-sized bathtubs. (Province of Nova Scotia)
More families in Halifax now have access to safe, stable supportive housing with six new family units added to The Rose, a supportive housing community operated by Adsum for Women & Children.
The new units increase capacity to 24 families from 18.
“This expansion means more families have a safe place to call home and the support they need to rebuild their lives,” said Barbara Adams, Minister of Opportunities and Social Development. “The Rose is more than housing – it’s a place where families can heal, connect and grow. It’s through strong partnerships with organizations like Adsum that these unique solutions are possible.”
The Rose provides safe and affordable supportive housing for families with children who are experiencing homelessness, including those who have been staying in provincially funded hotels. The new units are fully furnished two- and four-bedroom apartments, complete with kitchen appliances and full-sized bathtubs. All units are fully accessible, with electricity and water included. The building also includes shared spaces such as lounges with play areas and laundry rooms on each floor. There is also an outdoor playground.
Residents have access to wraparound supports delivered on-site by Adsum staff. These services help families stabilize, strengthen their well-being and build toward long-term independence after experiencing homelessness, including homelessness linked to gender-based violence. As with other supportive housing, families at The Rose contribute 30 per cent of their income toward the cost of the program.
Quotes:
“We are thrilled to create these beautiful, safe spaces to live. The Rose now has capacity to house 24 families. That’s as many as 90 people, most of them children, who would otherwise experience homelessness. This is a wonderful example of repurposing an underused building to realize a solution to ending homelessness.”
— Sheri Lecker, Executive Director, Adsum for Women & Children
Quick Facts:
- The Rose opened in December 2024; the Province has invested $1.2 million in The Rose, including the new units
- Budget 2026-27 includes $165 million for supportive housing and homelessness supports – an overall increase of almost $35 million to create more supportive housing, expand shelter access, and increase homelessness services in communities across the province
- the Province’s goal is to have 1,586 supportive housing units by 2027-28; as of May 1, there were 1,207 supportive housing units in place
- other provincial investments in supportive housing across the province include the master lease program, the tiny homes community in Lower Sackville and Eleanor’s Court in Sydney, all of which provide people with tailored wraparound services and supports to prepare them for more independent living
- over the past year, the number of people experiencing homelessness staying in provincially funded hotel rooms has declined from 251 to 36, an 86 per cent decrease; The Rose is a unique partnership that is contributing to the decline
Additional Resources:
Supports for people experiencing homelessness: https://novascotia.ca/supports-for-people-experiencing-homelessness/
Adsum for Women & Children: https://adsumforwomen.org/
News releases related to supportive housing: https://news.novascotia.ca/search/all?field_topics=240