Supportive housing complex in Sydney offers stability for vulnerable people

Nova ScotiaEleanor’s Court offers affordable rental units to vulnerable people. All of its units are now full and staff say it’s running smoothly.’I finally have my own apartment. This is the stability I was looking for,’ says tenantBrittany Wentzell · CBC · Posted: Jun 20, 2025 8:53 AM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoLisa Dowling sits in her new apartment holding her kitten, Ebony. A shrine to her late daughter sits to her left. (Brittany Wentzell)For Lisa Dowling, moving into Eleanor’s Court has meant more than just a roof over her head. “There has to be a word better than ‘love’ to describe it, because it’s great,” said Dowling. “I finally have my own apartment. This is the stability I was looking for.”Dowling is one of 25 tenants now living in the affordable and supportive housing development in Sydney, N.S. Tenants could be people who are homeless or have precarious housing.Eleanor’s Court is a collaboration between New Dawn Enterprises, which owns the building, and the Cape Breton Ally Centre, which provides the staff. How this rapid housing project may save livesA new housing project is expected to open later this month in Cape Breton. The apartment building known as Eleanor’s Court will take in 25 people who are living at a nearby Pallet shelter village. The CBC’s Erin Pottie reports.It offers 24/7 on-site security and staff to support the residents.Dowling said she lost her housing after being hospitalized for three months following several surgeries. She had also broken up with her boyfriend and discovered he had made her apartment uninhabitable while she was away.On top of that, she was still struggling with the death of her 18-year-old daughter. Then Dowling found herself homeless. “I was bounced around from house to house and was pushing a cart around town every day wondering where to sleep,” she said.Then, she got a spot at the Pine Tree Park Pallet Village. The village consists of 35 temporary shelters that provide privacy and safety for vulnerable people. That is also run by the Ally Centre and New Dawn.Twenty-four out of the twenty-five residents at Eleanor’s Court have also lived in the pallet shelters, freeing up more space for people who are homeless.Dowling spent six months at the village before moving to Eleanor’s Court. She said she enjoyed her time there but being so far out of town made life difficult. Now she’s downtown, where she can walk to the pharmacy, go to a local café, or take her new kitten, Ebony, for walks.”It’s just it’s perfect.… There’s nothing I can say bad about it and all.”There was some opposition to the apartment complex when construction was announced in 2023. Residents in the area were concerned with the appearance of the complex as well and its proximity to other residences. The entrance to Eleanor’s Court. (Brittany Wenzell)Bryanna MacLean, a peer support worker at Eleanor’s Court, said there are misconceptions about the people living in the complex, adding many assume the residents are criminals or troublemakers.”Everyone here is just another person who has their own struggles and are trying to get through the day like everyone else,” said MacLean.So far, she said everything is going smoothly since opening a few weeks ago.”I think a lot of people are adjusting nicely. I mean, it’s just awesome that everybody has their own place and can kind of have refuge.”