CARE service expands to Halifax peninsula
Residents on the Halifax peninsula can now access CARE – Crisis Assistance and Response, a 24-hour community-based mobile response service that provides in-person support for people experiencing non-emergency, non-violent crises related to mental health, substance use and personal well-being.
With today's expansion, CARE is now available throughout the Halifax peninsula, Dartmouth (within the Highway 111 boundary), Woodlawn and Cole Harbour, providing more residents with access to a trauma-informed alternative response when police, fire or Emergency Health Services may not be the most appropriate resource.
Launched in October 2025, CARE is a pilot program and a key deliverable of Regional Council's Public Safety Strategy. It provides community-based, trauma-informed psychosocial support for people aged 16 and older through specially trained mobile response teams.
About CARE
CARE provides in-person support when someone is in distress, including:
- calming and de-escalating a crisis;
- developing a safety plan;
- helping someone get to a safe place; and
- connecting people with community supports following the crisis.
CARE staff are trained in trauma-informed care, harm reduction, mental health first aid, suicide prevention and cultural humility. They are prepared to respond respectfully and effectively to people from diverse communities, including African Nova Scotians, Indigenous Peoples, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and neurodiverse residents.
The CARE pilot program is delivered through partnerships with:
- 211 Nova Scotia (intake and dispatch partner): first point of contact and call assessment;
- Souls Harbour Rescue Mission (mobile partner): provides in-person crisis response; and
- Halifax Regional Municipality's Community Safety team: oversees program coordination and evaluation.
How to access CARE
Residents can call 211 to access the CARE service. A trained CARE navigator will review the situation, assess the individual's needs, and provide information, resources and support over the phone where appropriate. If the assessment indicates that in-person support is needed, the CARE mobile team will be dispatched.
CARE is a consent-based service. It does not respond to emergencies involving violence or weapons. In those situations, call 911.
For more information about the CARE program, visit: halifax.ca/CAREteam
