Crisis team providing alternative response for people in distress expanding to 24 hours

A community-based response team being piloted in Dartmouth, N.S., offering an alternative model to police to support people in crisis, is expanding to 24-hour service.

The Crisis Assistance and Response Team, known as CARE, launched in October and is moving to around-the-clock support as of Jan. 19.

The Halifax Regional Municipality’s community safety team oversees the program, with Souls Harbour Rescue Mission providing the staff who offer in-person support.

“Not every crisis, not every situation is a police matter. And the nice thing about our team, we're coming in plain clothes,” explained Matthew Reid, the director of mobile ministries with Souls Harbour Rescue Mission.

The program serves the communities of Dartmouth (within the circumferential highway, Highway 111), Woodlawn and Cole Harbour.

It responds to calls that come in through 211 Nova Scotia.

The team responds to calls that are not violent or clinical in nature and not emergencies, through a consent-based, trauma-informed approach which can connect people to a range of other services if needed.

They deal with a wide range of issues including calls for mental health support, help with substance use as well as food or housing needs. 

“It's about meeting people in a safe place and having community supports for people,” Reid said. “We can give them supports that are needed and resources that are out there and hopefully make their day better.”

The project is running with a staff of 17 people who have gone through 6½ weeks of training and work in pairs when responding to calls.

“Whatever it takes to divert the crisis to make sure that the person is supported before we leave is top priority,” Reid said.

It has been implemented based on recommendations approved by council in its public safety strategy in 2023.

The strategy proposed the need for alternative models in situations that do not require police, such as many mental health calls they have responded to in the past.

It also detailed how emergency services have indicated their resources are already stretched.