Shelter Nova Scotia serves 1300 individuals annually in shelters, supported apartments, halfway houses, and community outreach services. 1000 people are male identified. The underwear purchased was for male-identified individuals. The typical male identified person receiving service from Shelter Nova Scotia is between the ages of 35–45 years old and is experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness or is marginalized by society. Some are fully employed, or partially employed or unemployed, some are transitioning from correctional facilities. What they have in common is that they can not afford housing. Most are single, some have family who are unable to support them at this juncture.
Although as a society we are becoming more aware of the realities of people becoming homeless, we do not always know how we can best help. Most unsolicited donations are hats, mitts, socks, and coffee/sweets. Sometimes people donate used underwear. However, in 2017, Shelter Nova made a public stand against the indignity of suggesting a human being should be grateful to wear the discarded undergarments of others. The organization only accepts new underwear. This stand has reduced the underwear donations received.
We asked Shelter Nova Scotia what their greatest needs were and advised that men's underwear was one of the greatest. We were excited to join efforts with the Rotary Club of Dartmouth and the Rotary Club of Halifax Northwest to be able to put a dent in this need.