What is a Pallet village?

Homelessness is a complex issue that requires a variety of solutions, and Pallet shelters are just one of the initiatives under Nova Scotia’s Supportive Housing Approach. Pallet Shelter Villages are a rapid response to homelessness across Nova Scotia.  It is a transitional housing solution, made up of a community of small living spaces that provide a dignified and secure space with 24/7 case management support from a local service provider.  

The villages are designed to bridge the gap from sleeping rough to finding more permanent housing.  

When someone experiencing homelessness moves in, they have immediate access to meals, hygiene facilities, a case manager, and more. The path to stability begins with a safe place to sleep and a supportive environment.

We feel the urgency to get the Pallet units in place and we are working with municipalities and experienced service providers across the province to find suitable land and services to support the Pallet villages.

The Province, Municipality and Service Providers are all involved – who is responsible for what? 

The Department of Community Services has the mandate to increase supportive housing and other solutions to help with the homelessness crisis in Nova Scotia.  As part of this work, DCS is leading the purchase, planning, and construction of 200 Pallet shelters for villages in several areas of Nova Scotia. All costs for the Shelters, site preparation, and operations are being provided by the Province to ensure that all Nova Scotians have somewhere to go to get out of the weather and stay warm overnight.  

Municipalities are important partners in finding solutions to address homelessness.  Some municipalities have the ability to fund supports or provide in-kind supports like garbage collection to villages.  

Service providers will work with DCS to design the set-up of the Village and its operations.  They will hire staff to manage the site and ensure on-site staff, 24/7.   The Service provider does the intake for residents.  

Who are the residents and how will they be identified? How long can they stay? 

The Pallet village is for people who are experiencing homelessness, especially those sleeping rough. These people are most at risk of dying from extreme winter weather.  A resident will be assigned a unit, with a key, that becomes theirs and is a place they return to each night and a place where they can safely leave and lock their belongings. That is their unit until they are transitioned to permanent, affordable, supportive housing. For many, it will be the first time in years that they have had a dependable, secure, warm place to stay every night. 

Anyone interested in residing in a unit must be connected with the service provider for the village.  The service provider will determine the intake process for each village

What services are provided to residents of the village? 

The services onsite will include:  

Support Staff: There will be two 24-7 support staff who work 365 days a year. The project will hire full-time, part-time, and casual support staff to have a sufficient roster of trained staff for all shifts. In addition to these, a manager will be on site in daytime working hours (Monday to Friday 9-5 or 8-4) and will be responsible for coordinating intake, case management, village policies, village programming, transition to permanent housing, etc. 

Food:  Generally, two meals a day will be provided to residents.  Depending on the amenities available in the village, food will either be prepared onsite or prepared offsite and served in the village.  

Healthcare:  Generally, village staff will make connections with community healthcare resources where they can.    Medication will be monitored by the resident themselves, the 24/7 support workers, and any other health professionals that residents need and want to engage.  

Housing support: trained staff whose role is to identify a pathway to permanent housing and work with the resident to get what they need in place (i.e. identification, income support, credit checks, references, wrap-around supports, etc.) to secure the kind of housing they need.  

Case management: each individual in entering the Village enters into a case management relationship with staff. Case management means that staff and the individual work together to identify their goals, assets, barriers, and opportunities and create a realistic plan to help them move towards their goals.  

Addictions and Mental Health Supports: Depending on the resources available in communities, village staff will make connections with local resources.  In part, this will be confirmed once we know who the residents are and what their needs and goals are. 

Other services not included in the list above that the residents need/want and can be coordinated as the individual needs and hopes of each resident are determined through the intake and case management process.  

Why here?  What is the process for choosing a site? 

The primary goal of this temporary housing is to bring people inside who are sleeping rough and to bring the wraparound supports individuals need to be able to transition to longer term or more permanent supportive and affordable housing.  

There is a lot to consider in choosing an appropriate site for a Pallet village, and work has to happen quickly.  In addition to finding available suitable land, we need to make sure there is an appropriate service provider in the community, that the land is relatively close to amenities, near transit routes, and has the ability to be hooked up to power, water, and sewer services.

In many cases, in order to move quickly, land owned by the Province is being used as provincially owned land is exempt from municipal zoning and amendment processes.  In other cases, such as the site in Sackville, suitable and available land was identified by a service provider.  

In all cases, the land need to be flat, clear of any buildings, ready to receive the development (not requiring any major clearing), large enough to accommodate the number of planned units and shared facility buildings, in proximity to municipal services (water, sewer, power) for hook-ups, close to a transit stop, able to be fenced and well-lit, have secure and monitored access, and to meet all of the Dignity Standards set out and required by the manufacturer, Pallet.

Do the Pallet shelters meet building requirements? 

The Shelters will meet all of the required provincial and national regulations. They have been undergoing rigorous assessment and will be stamped by Canadian engineers.  

The S2 Sleeper (the model being purchased by the Province of Nova Scotia) features robust fire, wind, and snow load ratings, and integrated smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Each shelter is equipped with a durable solid core locking front door with kick plate and peephole, along with a fire extinguisher and egress window in case of emergency.  

Cabin spacing must be approved by the local fire authority, and villages operators enforce a strict policy against smoking.

What about my property values? 

Property Values Services Corporation (PVSC) assesses property values in Nova Scotia once a year. PVSC would not re-evaluate the value of homes in the community on the basis of the Village being added.  

It is unlikely that when taxes are evaluated next year you will see a decline in your assessment. Many factors go into assessments and a fully funded, staffed, and structured public service is not going to negatively impact values from the perspective of PVSC.  

This can be a common concern from neighbors of supportive housing; much research on the topic has been done across Canada and the United States and a decrease in property values has not been found.

What income will residents of the Pallet village have? Will they have to pay rent?  

It can be difficult for some to secure income assistance without a permanent address. If you are homeless and without employment, AND you can’t get income assistance, it is then impossible to secure permanent housing.  

After moving into the Pallet Shelter Village, residents will be helped with things like getting ID, registering for provincial income (and other) supports, opening a bank account, finding permanent supportive housing that they can afford, and connecting to a range of social, medical, and mental health services.  

There will be no rent charged to residents of the Pallet Shelter Village. If they are successful in an application for income assistance, they will not need to use this to pay rent at the Village. The goal of the Village is to move people to permanent, supportive, affordable housing which will require monthly rent (among other) expenses.  

 Why has it taken you so long to lead a community consultation process? 

Pallet Shelter Villages are a rapid response to homelessness across Nova Scotia. In part, this means that the development is happening more quickly than would normally be the case in an effort to get the Villages established as soon as possible, get people out of the cold, and prevent weather-related deaths

You say this will save lives - how?

Homelessness is growing in our communities. We estimate that currently there are 100 people sleeping rough in HRM, between 30-40 in CBRM and more across the province.  This represents substantial growth in the number of people who are sleeping rough and these people are most at risk of dying from extreme winter weather.  

The Pallet villages will save lives by giving people who are currently sleeping in tents, parks, and abandoned buildings a safe, heated, simple unit in which to live. They will no longer be at risk of dying from extreme cold and will have the wraparound supports they need to stab. 

The Pallet Village also creates a cohesive and supportive community which protects those who have been sleeping hidden and isolated in tents, which leaves a person vulnerable to overdose and other harms. 

In addition to stable and safe housing, the Pallet Shelter Village will host a range of service providers and programs that, in addition to moving people to permanent, affordable, supportive housing will help them to identify the other areas in their life (health, mental health, additions, income/employment) where they would like help.

What is the plan and timeline for the Village in my community?

Nova Scotians experiencing homelessness deserve to feel safe, supported, and to be treated with dignity.

Pallet Shelter Villages are a rapid response to homelessness across Nova Scotia. We all feel the urgency to provide more supportive housing, especially for those experiencing homelessness and we are working as quickly as possible.  In part, this means that the development is happening more quickly than would normally be the case to get the Villages established as soon as possible, get people out of the cold, and prevent weather-related deaths. 

There are several steps between when suitable land is identified and the village opening, including a final site assessment, site preparation (water and power hookups, etc.), village assembly, fencing and inspections.

Why is the Province buying shelters from an American company and not buying locally?

Pallet is a leader in North America who have implemented several temporary emergency shelter communities across the States, and now within Canada. 

They are first-voice informed and built – committed to frequent design changes to meet the changing needs of individuals sleeping rough. The shelters are climate-controlled environments that offer dignified and safe temporary homes with wrap around support services. 

 Nova Scotia is partnering with Pallet because of their expertise in this area and the unique construction of the product.  To move as quickly as possible, it was important to work with a company who has successfully created a product and solution.  In addition, Pallet’s approach aligns with government’s values as the products were developed in conjunction with those who have experienced homelessness first-hand, and Pallet’s workforce is made of more than 60% with lived experience.  Pallet is not just selling a product; they have partnered with us on best practices for roll out, they high dignity standards for the villages, and they are focused on continuous improvement, informed by lived experience.  

Nova Scotia will partner with Pallet on case studies and best practices in how to best utilize the Pallet village model.

What are the dignity standards set by the Pallet company?

The Pallet company has created a set of dignity standards that guide all of the work in shelter villages using Pallet’s product.  The standards were created with input from Pallet team members who have lived experience, and their purpose is to hold us accountable to the communities we serve.  The standards are: 

Hygiene Facilities: Everyone is entitled to hygiene and sanitation that is clean, safe, secure and that provides privacy and ensures dignity.  Well maintained toilets and handwashing facilities are mandatory.  Residents must have access to showers and be able to wash their clothes. 

Meals: Clean, safe drinking water must be always available. Villages are required to solve for food requirements, providing 2-3 meals per day.  

Transportation: Villages must be near an active public transportation hub, allowing access to essential services such as food, healthcare, public benefits, and employment.  

Safety: Residents, staff, and the surrounding communities should be afforded every available measure of safety and security.  Site infrastructure must include exterior fencing, locking gate/monitored entrances and operable lighting.  Village operators must maintain clear pathways, enforce a strict policy against smoking or open flames inside cabins, and must always have sufficient staff on duty.  A zero-tolerance policy toward violence, abuse of power, threats/intimidation, sexual harassment/assault, or discrimination of any kind is mandatory for all persons at the village. 

Support Services: Village operators must engage residents in supportive services/case management.  Supportive services must be client centric with an emphasis on attaining stable housing, publicly available benefits, health care, vital documents, and employment. 

Will the village expand?  Will there be tents outside of the village? 

The Pallet Village creates a cohesive and supportive community which protects those who have been sleeping hidden and isolated in tents, which leaves a person vulnerable to overdose and other harms.  There are no plans for the growth or extension of any of the sites.

There will be no tents or dwellings outside of the gates.  The village is not an encampment.  The Village is transitional housing. The goal is to move people into permanent, supportive, affordable housing as soon as possible.  

Are these units suitable for Nova Scotian winters?

Pallet has helped establish shelter villages in many areas across North America, including places with a similar climate to Nova Scotia, like Boston. They have been tested in extreme weather conditions. Each unit has climate control, making sure there is enough heat in the winter, and that they can stay cool in the summer.

What are police protocols for responding to the Pallet village? 

This is a question best directed to the local police service but like any residential location, the police will be policing the Village. The Village is somewhat like a home, and we want residents to treat it (with care and pride) like they would their home. Police wouldn’t monitor (inside a home) or visit a home, unless they had been called, or had other reasons to believe a crime was being committed. The police will be provided the access they need when they are called or have reason to believe a crime is being committed.

What policies will be in place to ensure safety, including cleanliness? What are the consequences of breaking the rules? 

Service providers will be responsible for operating policies for the Pallet villages and each Pallet shelter village mandates a zero-tolerance policy toward violence, abuse of power, threats/intimidation, sexual harassment/assault, or discrimination of any kind. Residents must be able to abide by these guidelines which are set out by the Pallet company. 

Housing is a first and necessary step in moving towards long term stability and health.   

The Village will be staffed 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year by two staff. A number of additional staff and services will be onsite during the day. There will be 24/7 security cameras all around the site and the site and its perimeter will be well lit.

Will there be investments in affordable housing so that people have a place to transition to out of the Pallet village? 

Many partners are working on adding additional supportive and affordable housing in the province and the service provider at each village would be connected with housing support workers who are well-connected in supporting individuals to find permanent, supportive, affordable housing.  From the day they arrive in the Village, staff will be working with each person to find appropriate housing that they can afford. If they and their housing support worker can find existing housing that meets their needs and they can afford, their transition to that housing will begin.