OUTREACH PROGRAM
Open: Monday through Friday
Time: 10:00am to 2:00pm
Contact: Call ahead (902) 809-5530 or email bsm.outreach@eastlink.ca
Eligibility: Each sub-program has it's own criteria, please check below for eligiblity.
The Benevolent Program, like many programs throughout the city, province and country, closed in March of 2020 when the State of Emergency shut down businesses, nonprofits and organizations. Brunswick Street Mission took time to redesign the program in order to use what we have, where we can, to impact our community for the better and we have named what we came up with as our Outreach Program.
It is our aim, in keeping with our value of Transparency, to evolve the Outreach Program into one that responds to our community’s genuine needs. To this end we will be evaluating our practice and adjusting where necessary.
Diversity and Inclusion training is currently underway in order for our team to better understand how to provide services from an anti-oppressive framework. We anticipate improving our service delivery in order to safely work with community members harmed by the legacy of colonialism and discrimination based on gender, sexual identity, ethnicity, income level and immigration status. We are actively seeking collaboration with our peer organizations, who are ahead of us in the work, to reduce inequalities faced by marginalized groups.
The Outreach Program has a collection of Sub-Programs, with the Outreach Coordinator providing various interventions to people living within the low-income threshold. The Outreach Coordinator is anti-racist, trans-friendly and gender-inclusive and belongs to the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
Pandemic Recovery
Are you ready to re-enter the workforce but running into barriers and issues? Our Pandemic (back-to-work) Recovery Program seeks to understand the larger context of a person’s life, and the barriers that might be preventing re-employment. We offer a range of interventions to eligible clients including:
- supportive counselling
- referrals to community employment-readiness programs
- assistance in paying arrears due to the COVID19 Pandemic
- covering costs of employment-related transportation, childcare and supplies
- assistance with training related costs
Eligibility: An HRM resident, requires support to overcome a specific barrier(s) to re-employment and can provide proof of employment and financial self-sufficiency prior to March 2020.
Employment Support
Have you secured employment but need steel-toed work boots? Our Employment Related Supplies Program offers boots to those in need. This service has been expanded to cover the cost of a criminal record check. Need other PPE? Give us a call and we will assess the situation and our ability to offer you additional support.
Please note: depending on the supplies requested, it is possible that some have been previously owned.
Eligibility: An HRM resident and can provide a current employment reference.
Financial Support
Beyond the glaring issue of lack of affordable housing, we know that it is often a series of crises that lead people into chronic poverty or homelessness. The Financial Support Program considers one-time emergency support payments. These payments can fall into several categories such as transit, eviction prevention, housing acquisition, relocation and identification and can provide the opportunity for people to remain financially self-sufficient. Financial support for eligible clients is directed to the vendor (landlord, utility provider, etc.).
Eligibility: A North End Halifax resident, are not eligible for other available resources, requires support to address short-term and unexpected need(s) and can demonstrate that future income/resources meet long-term needs.
ID Supports
Identification is a requirement for many services and we recognize the difficulties in acquiring or replacing ID cards. While our capacity in this particular area is limited, we can provide support in acquiring, renewing or replacing MSI cards, NS ID cards or changing gender markers. Support to acquire other forms of ID will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Eligibility: An HRM resident.
One-to-One Advocacy
It can be challenging to defend your rights or ensure your needs are being met. Sometimes it can be helpful to add the support of another voice. Our Outreach Coordinator is nonjudgmental, client-directed, and solution-focused which means they will listen to your story, clarify the outcome(s) you want/need, share information on possible ways to get there and advocate on your behalf.
Eligibility: An HRM resident.