If We Build It, Will They Come? Debunking the 'Magnet' Myth in Rural Communities
- KCHCC
- Feb 11
- 2 min read
Updated: May 15
A question we often hear in our community is: 'If we open more services in Kentville, will it just attract more people from other towns?' It’s a fair question, but recent experts and data suggest that the answer is not what many expect.
The Featured News:
Source: CBC News Nova Scotia
Key Takeaways from the Article:
The "Homegrown" Reality: The vast majority of people using rural shelters are local residents who have deep roots in the community.
Support Networks: People experiencing a crisis tend to stay near their family, their children’s schools, and their familiar doctors. They don't want to move to a town where they know no one.
Visible vs. New: Often, a new shelter doesn't create more homelessness; it simply makes the people who were already sleeping in cars or "couch surfing" more visible because they finally have a place to go for help.
Our Committee’s Take: In Kentville, we aren't seeing an 'influx' of strangers; we are seeing our neighbors, former coworkers, and local seniors who can no longer afford the rising rents. Providing services here doesn't 'import' a problem—it addresses a problem that is already living quietly among us. When we support a local shelter, we are supporting a safety net for our own townspeople.
Discussion Points for the Community:
Look at the Data: Shelters often keep records of where their clients come from; the data consistently shows they are local.
Focus on Solutions: If every town provides support for its own residents, no one is forced to travel to another town for a bed.
Human Connection: Remember that being unhoused is exhausting; the idea that someone would relocate to a new town just for a shelter bed ignores the reality of how difficult it is to move while in crisis.
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