Our Focus Areas

YWCA Halifax has been a trusted leader in Nova Scotia for over 150 years, delivering programs in housing, employment, early learning, violence prevention, and community development. Our work is rooted in creating practical solutions to complex social challenges while ensuring that diverse community voices are heard and reflected in decision-making.

Through HERE Services, we support partners and clients in delivering the same high-quality outcomes in the following three focus areas:

  • Gender Equity & Social Policy

    Helping governments, institutions, and community partners design policies and programs that advance equity, safety, and inclusion, grounded in frontline experience with women, gender-diverse people, and survivors of violence.

    Recent Projects:

    HRM – Alternative Responses to Intimate Partner Violence
    Trauma-informed community engagement to inform HRM’s Crisis Diversion Model.

    Government of Nova Scotia – Relocation of Rural Survivors of IPV
    Province-wide needs assessment on relocation and housing gaps for survivors in rural communities.

    Government of Canada – National Housing Strategy
    Advocated for and achieved the inclusion of a gender lens in the National Housing Strategy, ensuring 25% of funds are allocated to women-focused housing solutions.

    Home for Good
    Co-developed an eLearning module for landlords to reduce discrimination against women leaving supportive housing.

  • Housing Strategy & Systems Change

    Designing and delivering housing solutions that combine policy expertise, program design, and community-based supports. From system-level coordination to housing and tenancy development, we bring a holistic, equity-driven approach to housing.

    Recent Projects:

    AHANS – Coordinated Access System for Housing
    Led development and delivery of Halifax’s Coordinated Access System.

    Rapid Housing Initiative – Mount Hope Village
    Acquired, tenanted, and supported 32 affordable homes; currently expanding to 330+ additional units.

    The Waverley Housing Program
    Opened and operated 32 supportive housing units with trauma-informed wraparound supports.

    YWCA Programs (WISH, SHYM, Safer Spaces)
    Delivered transitional and supportive housing for women, youth, and gender-diverse people.

  • Engagement, Education & Evaluation

    Facilitating meaningful engagement with underrepresented communities, designing education tools, and evaluating programs with an equity lens. Our approach ensures that voices too often excluded are at the center of decision-making.

    Recent Projects:

    Joint Regional Transportation Authority – Regional Plan Engagement
    Designed and delivered inclusive engagement with marginalized groups to shape regional transportation planning.

    Home for Good – Landlord Education Module
    Created interactive eLearning to shift rental practices and reduce housing discrimination.

    Multiple Projects – Evaluation & Learning
    Applied gender-equity frameworks to evaluate housing and social programs, ensuring evidence-based policy and practice improvements.