Community & Support

211

Nova Scotia 211 is your 24/7 connection to the programs and services in your community that matter most to you. Through information and referrals, they help connect you to local community groups, non-profit and government organizations. Help starts here with 211. To access, simply dial 2-1-1 from your phone.

Their navigators are trained to deal with the most complex and sensitive questions. As a result of your call, they can help connect you, a family member, a friend, neighbour, or a client with organizations able to meet your needs. The 211 service is free and confidential. So, whether you want to talk, text, email or use our online search tool, they are there to help. In addition, they also use a translation service that is available in over 140 languages.

Shelters and Support Services

Ally Centre of Cape Breton provides compassionate, low-barrier health, housing, harm reduction, and outreach services for individuals experiencing homelessness, blood borne pathogens, substance use, poverty, or other barriers. The Centre also offers primary health care, housing support, referrals, advocacy, and community programs to help people access the services and supports they need.
Serves: Cape Breton
Phone: 902-567-1766
Website: www.allycentreofcapebreton.com

Cape Breton Community Housing Association provides safe emergency shelter for men and women experiencing homelessness in CBRM. The Community Homeless Shelter is also a stepping stone into further supports offered by Cape Breton Community Housing Association’s Homelessness Programs. Serves: CBRM
Phone: 902-539-0025
Address: 106 Townsend Street, 1st Floor, Sydney, NS, B1P 5E1
Email: communityhousing@cbcha.ca
Website: www.cbcha.ca

Cape Breton Transition House offers safe, inclusive, and confidential support services for those dealing with the physical, mental, and emotional trauma caused by domestic and sexualized violence. Offers emergency shelter to those fleeing domestic violence, and supports specific to women and children. Welcomes those from all cultural, economic, social, and religious backgrounds.
Serves: CBRM and Victoria County
Phone: 902-539-2945 (24/7 Crisis Support Line; can also be used for general inquiries regarding Transition House services) Toll Free: 1-800-563-2945
Email: cbtransitionhousefoundation@outlook.com
Website: www.cbtha.com

Every Woman’s Centre provides information, referrals, advocacy, and support to women navigating personal challenges, life changes, and accessing community resources.
Serves: CBRM
Phone: 902-567-1212
Website: www.everywomanscentre.com

Hope House is a live-in recovery home for women seeking healing from addictions. Through a trauma-informed residential program, Hope House provides a safe and supportive environment with recovery programming, life skills development, counselling, and opportunities for personal growth to help women build healthy, independent lives.
Serves: Cape Breton
Phone: 902-304-6247
Email: info@cbhope.ca
Website: www.cbhope.ca

Jane Paul Indigenous Women’s Resource Centre provides resources and support for Indigenous women living off-reserve in the Sydney area; services relating to housing and homelessness, family life, poverty, food insecurity, violence, mental health, or involvement with the criminal justice system.
Phone: 902-539-5890
Address: 235 Townsend St, Sydney NS
Email: intake@nsnwa.net
Website: www.nsnwa.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JanePaulIndigenousResourceCentre

Leeside Transition House – Port Hawkesbury provides 24/7 safe shelter and support services for women (16+) and their children who have experienced abuse or violence. Services include crisis support, a 24-hour helpline, counselling, safety planning, advocacy, and help navigating legal and community resources, along with outreach support in the community.
Serves: Richmond and Inverness Counties and the Town of Port Hawkesbury.
Phone 24 Hour Help Line: 902-625-2444 | Toll Free: 1-800-565-3390
Website: www.thans.ca/shelters/leeside

SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) Program (Nova Scotia Health) serving all genders (including trans identified people), ages 13 and over, who have experienced sexual assault in the past 7 days (168 hours).
Phone: 1-844-858-8036 (24 hours a day/ 7 days a week)
Website: www.nshealth.ca/sane

Community Kitchens & Food Banks

A number of organizations throughout the Island provide food banks and/or similar services where they collect and distribute foods to residents in need. The following is a list of many of these organizations, but we recommend reaching out locally to the community you are in (or moving to) to inquire about other organizations.

2SLGBTQ+ Resources and Supports

A number of organizations/groups are active across Unama’ki – Cape Breton that provide and offer tools for those looking to connect with the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Some of those groups include:

Faith-Based Organizations

Unama’ki – Cape Breton is home to several faith-based organizations with a vast number of locations in just about every community across the Island. You can find a substantial list of these locations on our Newcomer Service Map.

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Last Modified: July 7, 2026