New hope is on the way for men seeking a safe place to call home while in recovery.
Michelle Porter, co-founder and CEO of Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, says the organization has partnered with The Carpenter’s Shop, a recovery home designed to help individuals struggling with addiction find a fresh start.
Porter says they are getting ready for the grand opening of the new facility in Yarmouth on Aug. 28.
“This home is beautiful. It was restored incredibly from pretty much a dilapidated state,” says Porter in a video walkthrough posted on social media.
In total, the house can support eight men.
Porter explains, “There are two bedrooms, each of which holds two bunk beds. These bunk beds were made by hand, they are solid, and you can see those little magnetic strips under the beds for them to hang their pictures of loved ones or little encouragement notes or Bible verses.”
She notes that “men love to work out,” pointing to a small area upstairs equipped with exercise equipment available to guests at any time.
As she moves through the house, she shows viewers two full bathrooms, one upstairs and one downstairs, “because with eight guys, you know, you definitely are gonna need some space.”
Downstairs, there is an open living area with comfortable seating and a guitar.
“This is where they would do all their studies, their group work, and of course, just relaxing in the evenings. We’ve got some house rules here,” Porter says, pointing to a framed list that includes guidelines for cleanliness and respect for others.
In the hallway, The Carpenter’s Shop has created a display of photographs showcasing how the building looked before the project began, highlighting the transformation.
“I want to show you the original building. Look at this, you guys. It was dilapidated, I’m telling you. They went upstairs and the ceiling fell out.”
As Porter continued her tour, she made sure to stop at the new office.
“This is really nice because you can do a little bit more than just one-on-one in here. You can have a small group. You can have a family session for guys and their families. You know, if a guy wants parental visits, they can happen privately in here.”
Guests also have access to laundry facilities and a kitchen professionally installed by the founders of The Carpenter’s Shop.
“This is a cook’s dream. Ian built all this, retrofitted some of the cupboards to make sure they would fit. I love it so much,” says Porter excitedly.
“This is what the guys will do when they live here,” she says, stepping onto the backyard deck and showing a small garden and workshop where guests will develop skills.
Porter explains that every recovery program offered by Souls Harbour Rescue Mission includes a project that residents work on during their stay.
“So, the guys at Cunard Street in Halifax, they go to Mission Mart and they contribute there. The women at Hope House in Cape Breton, they make candles and soaps out of actual goats’ milk from our own goats, which is awesome. At the helm on the South Shore, we have a sawmill. They literally chop down trees, mill them, and then make projects.”
She says plans for projects at the new home are still being developed.
“Because the carpenter’s shop manager is an actual carpenter, we’ll see what happens here. We haven’t quite worked that out, but I have a feeling they’ll be learning some skills that will take them to the next step for our graduates.”
The founder of The Carpenter’s Shop will serve as manager of the facility, which will be operated in partnership with Souls Harbour Rescue Mission.
Porter says the house is currently empty as staff accept applications from prospective residents.
“We’re doing intakes for the residents. If you know of someone in the Yarmouth area who is looking to do recovery, send them our way.”
Watch Soul Harbour Rescue Mission’s full walkthrough:
