Social & Community Services Organizations in Halifax

At 100+ WWC Halifax, we believe in the power of collective giving. Our mission is simple: to bring together women who are passionate about making a difference in our community. Four times a year, we come together to support organizations that are transforming lives in our community. Through collective giving and shared passion, we amplify our philanthropic efforts and create lasting change. Join us in making a difference where it matters most—right here in Halifax.

Alcare Place is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping men recover from addiction to alcohol, drugs and gambling. Alcare Place opened in central Halifax in 1987 and since that time we have become a leader in the community with a client-centered, holistic approach to recovery from substance use and gambling disorders. Alcare Place is operated by a volunteer Board of Directors and is staffed by a diverse and qualified team dedicated to helping our clients through their recovery journey. Alcare Place can accommodate 11 residents, most of whom stay with us for one year. We offer Life Skills Programs, Relapse Prevention Programs, Goal Setting, Recreation, Relaxation & Meditation classes, Case Reviews, One-on-one Counseling, Narcotics Anonymous & Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Over the years, many men have entered our doors with a desire to rebuild their lives and learn more about awareness and prevention of addiction issues. After participating in the Alcare Place Recovery Program, many of our clients return to their respective communities as productive, contributing family members and citizens. Alcare Place provides a safe, stable and supportive environment where our clients are able to focus their energy towards healing, positive change and personal growth. In our many years of operating a recovery house, the one lesson that rings true is that our impact extends well beyond helping one person take back their life. We return husbands to their wives and partners, fathers to their children, sons and brothers to their families, skilled workers to their communities; and the benefits of recovery ripple outward over years touching countless lives.

The mission of the NSAA is to: - To increase public awareness of adult aphasia and other language disorders affecting people after stroke and other brain injuries. - To support and/or provide community programs for people with aphasia and/or language disorders: communication groups, and relearning for speech, writing and reading. - To provide information about resources to recover lost skills to the extent possible, to compensate for skills that will not be recovered and to minimize the psychosocial impact of the language impairment. The NSAA vision The Association: - Increases public awareness of aphasia through education. - Acts as an independent source of information for people with aphasia, families and/or caregivers, healthcare professionals, and the greater public. - Promotes and supports the participation of people with aphasia in their own communities. - Encourages participation of all members.

Autism Nova Scotia is a community-based organization that fosters understanding, acceptance, and inclusion for those living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) throughout Nova Scotia. The generous support of donors, volunteers, and community members allow us to redefine the status quo and perceptions of autism in our province. Our organization strives to provide supports and services in every community of Nova Scotia.

The Avalon Sexual Assault Centre is a feminist organization working to eliminate sexual assault/abuse, and to change the current socio-political culture that fosters sexism, social injustice and other forms of oppression.

BFM Thrift Store is a volunteer driven thrift store that offers premium used goods. We help families buy affordable quality household goods as well as divert used goods from landfills. All proceeds are donated to the Bible League Canada to support its worldwide work of Bible placement. The Halifax BFM Thrift Store building is a beautiful clean & bright new store; it is approximately 16,000 square feet which includes about 5,000 square feet of warehouse space. We opened our doors on March 22, 2014 after over two years of planning, prayers and preparation by the Steering Committee. The Store sits on 2.44 acres of land in Lower Sackville, NS and it is conveniently located near a shopping centre in a business area of the community.

BRAVE Centre for Building Resilience through Anti-Violence Education offers a comprehensive set of services based on the award-winning, evidence-based, cognitive behavioural SNAP® (Stop Now And Plan) program for girls aged 6-11 who struggle with social and behavioural issues at home or school, as well as their families. These behaviours may include bullying or being mean to others, making threats, being physically aggressive towards or hurting others, not listening, missing school, having negative peers associations, and stealing. Throughout the 12-week SNAP® groups, the girls and their families learn effective emotion regulation, problem solving and self-control skills. SNAP® Core Components - SNAP® Girls Groups - SNAP® Parenting Groups Additional Components and Services Offered Include: - Individual and Family Counselling - Individual Befriending/Mentorship - School Advocacy - Homework Club/Tutoring - Crisis Intervention - Victim Restitution - Community Connections - Long-Term Connections/Continued Care - SNAP® Girls Growing Up Healthy

As Canada’s leading child and youth mentoring charity, Big Brothers Big Sisters facilitates life-changing relationships that inspire and empower children and youth to reach their potential, both as individuals and citizens. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Halifax has been creating friendships since 1967. We started out matching Big Brothers with Little Brothers and have grown to include a variety of different programs that serve both boys and girls. We are proud of our achievements and continue to strive to be on the leading edge of the Big Brothers Big Sisters movement in Canada.

Brain Injury NS is the only organized voice for the more than 70,000 brain injury survivors in Nova Scotia. Most of us know someone who has suffered from a concussion, had a stroke, an aneurysm, or been injured due to accident or violence. We work to help these individuals and their families navigate the healthcare system and offer opportunities to participate in our peer support and other programming so they know they aren't alone in their recovery. We welcome volunteers from any region of the province to join us as peer support program leaders, event helpers, Committee members, or even to sit on our provincial Board of Directors.

Inspiring Hope and Dignity. The Brunswick Street Mission seeks to inspire a better quality of life through a ministry of care that addresses physical, emotional, practical and spiritual needs for those experiencing poverty. We serve those who struggle with poverty. Many are homeless, others are at risk of homelessness. There are individuals, couples, and families with children. Some work, others are on assistance, and others on disability or pension support. Their backgrounds are incredibly varied but they have in common that their present day is a struggle, and their future does not hold much promise.

OUR VISION We envision a diverse community where people have the resources they need to be healthy and well OUR MISSION To combat the causes and effects of poverty by providing the community with programming, resources and advocacy to help people achieve well being Our areas of focus include providing food security through a food bank and breakfast program, one-to-one support using a trauma-informed practice under a Social Worker. We also provide laundry services for unhoused folks, a free tax clinic for those with low annual incomes, and advocate for those experiencing poverty and homelessness in the Halifax Regional Municipality. Our Values We are committed to: Welcoming - Being open and welcoming, providing a safe space for anyone seeking support Caring Attitude - Reaching out to those in need, offering support through our programming Dignity & Respect - Treating everyone with dignity and respect, the way we would all wish to be treated Affirming & Inclusive - Diversity and inclusion in all our programs, helping to improve the quality of life for people in need no matter what Collaborative & Community Focused - Relationships and partnerships with people and organizations to enable a strong synergy Trauma Informed & Harm Reductive – using a trauma informed lens in our work with clients Our History In the 1860's the 'Edward Jost Mission' was established in the North End of Halifax; it subsequently became 'The City Mission'. After moving through several sites ebbs and flows of activity, the work of the Mission was taken up by the congregation of Brunswick Street United Church in 1929. The City Mission offered support including childcare, food, clothing, and employment help. Over time, the work of the Mission grew to be too much for one congregation to carry out and in 2005, the Halifax Presbytery of The United Church of Canada approved the trial formation of a separate entity: Brunswick Street Mission. The trial was deemed a success and permanent arrangements were made in 2009. Our mission remains as it did over 150 years ago: working to meet the needs of those experiencing poverty in Halifax.

Bryony House is a 24 bed shelter that provides a safe housing and support services for women with, or without children who have been impacted by intimate partner abuse. Each year, approximately 470 women and children stay with us and 2,500 distress calls are answered. Our dedicated counsellors are there to answer the 24-hour distress line, provide individual/group supportive counselling, public education, advocacy and referrals. An important part of our work is to break the cycle of abuse. Women who contact us come from many walks of life, socio-economic classes and cultural backgrounds. What they have in common is that they are in, or are fleeing, an abusive intimate relationship.