Daily Essentials
Free showers, laundry, haircuts, clothing, hygiene supplies, wifi.
These services are free, no ID required, and available to anyone. A shower, a clean shirt, a haircut — small things that make a big difference to a day.
Free showers in Nova Scotia
You don’t need to be staying at a shelter to access showers at most of these. Just show up during drop-in hours.
Halifax
Dartmouth
Other regions
All Souls Harbour drop-in locations have shower access. Call ahead to confirm current hours.
Free laundry
Halifax
Shelter villages
All 6 NS shelter village locations have shared laundry facilities on site. Call 2-1-1 for intake and access.
Many shelters provide laundry access to residents as part of their stay. If you’re staying at a shelter not listed here, ask staff — most have laundry facilities.
Free haircuts
Care Cuts Program — Metro Turning Point
- Volunteer barbers visit Metro Turning Point monthly through a partnership with Sailor Bup’s Barbershop.
- 2170 Barrington St, Halifax
- Free, no ID, no booking needed on visit days.
- Call 902-420-3282 to find out the next scheduled date.
Alnabelsi Mobile Barbershop
- Halifax’s first mobile barbershop.
- Free haircuts to Shelter Nova Scotia clients regularly at The Housing Hub.
- 5506 Cunard St, Halifax.
- Call The Hub to ask about next visit: 782-321-2163.
Halifax Connects (annual event)
- Annual community event dedicated to pampering people experiencing homelessness.
- Free haircuts, hygiene services, and more.
- Run by Shelter Nova Scotia — shelternovascotia.com for next event date.
Outside Halifax: Free haircut programs are limited. Call 2-1-1 to ask about local programs in your area. If you’re a barber or hairdresser interested in volunteering, contact placesforme.org@gmail.com — we’re building a province-wide volunteer haircutter directory.
Free clothing
Souls Harbour FreeMart (all drop-in locations)
- Free clothing and household goods — no purchase, no exchange, just take what you need.
- Halifax: 5568 Cunard St — Mon–Fri 1–4pm, Sat 12–1pm
- Dartmouth: 27 Farrell St
- Truro: 38 Pleasant St
- Bridgewater: 136 Pleasant St
- Amherst: 6 Maltby Court
- 70–80 items given out daily in Halifax alone. No ID required.
Other Halifax locations
Outside Halifax
- Viola’s Place Society, New Glasgow: 902-752-0550
- Haven House, Truro: 902-814-2936
- St Vincent de Paul locations province-wide: call 2-1-1 for nearest.
- Most Souls Harbour drop-in locations carry clothing — call ahead.
Free hygiene supplies
These places give out toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, razors, pads and tampons, and other essentials — no questions, no ID.
- Souls Harbour all drop-in locations: pick up daily during drop-in hours
- Shelter Nova Scotia Housing Hub: 5506 Cunard St, Halifax
- Brunswick Street Mission: 2107 Brunswick St, Halifax, Mon–Fri 9am–2pm
- Phoenix Youth Shelter: 1094 Tower Rd, Halifax (youth)
- Most emergency shelters carry basic hygiene supplies for residents — ask staff.
- Hospitals and health centres sometimes have hygiene kits — ask at reception.
Period products specifically: Brunswick Street Mission, Adsum House, and Souls Harbour all carry tampons and pads. Halifax Public Libraries also have period products available in washrooms — no need to ask.
Charge your phone, get online — free
Halifax Public Libraries (all branches)
- Free wifi, free computer access, free phone charging stations.
- No library card required for wifi or charging — card required for computers (free with any ID or shelter letter).
Full branch list: halifaxpubliclibraries.ca.
Drop-in centres
- Souls Harbour Halifax: free wifi and computer access during drop-in hours
- Brunswick Street Mission: computer access Mon–Fri 9am–2pm
- Shelter Nova Scotia Housing Hub: wifi and computer access
Tim Hortons and McDonald’s
- Free wifi at all locations, no purchase strictly required.
- Most have accessible power outlets near seating.
Outside Halifax
All NS public libraries offer free wifi and charging — find your nearest at library.novascotia.ca.
Store your belongings safely
Secure storage for belongings is one of the biggest gaps in NS. Here is what exists:
- Most emergency shelters allow residents to store belongings while staying there — ask at intake.
- Souls Harbour Housing Hub (5506 Cunard): some storage available for drop-in clients — call ahead: 782-321-2163.
- Bus station lockers (Halifax Transit Alderney terminal, Dartmouth): coin-operated, short-term only.
If you are sleeping rough and need to store belongings safely during the day, call 2-1-1 — they are aware of this gap and may know of informal solutions in your area.
Receive mail without a permanent address
Several shelters and organisations in NS will receive mail on your behalf — this is how you can get government ID without a fixed address.
See the full list and how to request a mail address on the ID & Docs page.
Mail address guide →