Top Needs Identified for Annapolis County

Annapolis County accounted for 1% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. When comparing Q1 2025 to the same period in 2024, there is a notable rise in requests for housing and shelter support in Annapolis County. This surge, coupled with consistent demand for food and utility assistance, points to growing economic insecurity in the region.

Meanwhile, the observed decline in mental health counselling requests is linked to a policy change by 211 Nova Scotia.

Unmet Needs Identified for Annapolis County

In 2025 Q1, 6% of the total referrals for people located in Annapolis County were recorded as being unmet. Data from Q1 2025 reveals an increase in unmet housing and shelter needs, which doubled—from 17% to 33. This rise, alongside consistently high levels of unmet food support, utility support, and public assistance needs (each at 17% unmet), points to growing resource gaps in the region.

Top Needs Identified for Antigonish County

Antigonish County accounted for 1% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. The data for 2025 Q1 reflects a shift in needs compared to the same period in 2024. Mental health counselling needs have risen to 9% in 2025, pointing to increased mental health challenges or growing awareness and willingness to seek support. Overall, the data suggests a potential stabilization in economic insecurity, but also a rising concern for mental health and broader well-being within the Antigonish community.

Unmet Needs Identified for Antigonish County

The comparison of unmet needs data for Antigonish between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025 appears to reveal a shift in community priorities and challenges. It is noteworthy that 18% of requested referrals were marked as unmet needs. In most cases, no program was found to meet the needs. The unmet need for disaster services is attributed to a lack of shelter support available during emergency situations.

Top Needs Identified for Cape Breton County

Cape Breton County accounted for 6% of all 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. Mental health counselling remains the top need across both years in Cape Breton County, though it declined slightly from 15% in 2024 to 13% in 2025. This decrease is attributed to an internal policy change.

Housing and shelter, along with food support, continue to be significant areas of concern—each at 9% and 8% respectively in 2025—with little to no change from the previous year. The data highlights the persistent need for mental health, food, and housing support, while also suggesting that some needs may have stabilized or slightly declined.

Unmet Needs Identified for Cape Breton County

In 2025 Q1, 11% of the total referrals in Cape Breton County were recorded as being unmet. The comparison of unmet needs data for Cape Breton County from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025 shows both persistence and shifts in the community's support gaps.

Food support remained the top unmet need across both years, increasing slightly from 21% to 22%, indicating ongoing food insecurity. While unmet needs related to utility support saw a notable decrease from 18% to 10%, however, unmet needs in transportation support emerged significantly in 2025 at 13%.

Top Needs Identified for Colchester County

Colchester County accounted for 3% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. The comparison of needs for Colchester County reveals that housing and shelter remained the most significant need in both Q1 2024 and Q1 2025, holding steady at 11%, indicating persistent housing insecurity in the region.

Food support needs decreased from 9% to 7% but still reflect ongoing struggles with food insecurity. On the other hand, legal services, utility support, and health supportive services each rose slightly to around 6–7% in 2025, hinting at emerging gaps or growing demand in these areas.

Unmet Needs Identified for Colchester County

In 2025 Q1, 5% of the total referrals in Colchester County were recorded as being unmet. The comparison of unmet needs in Colchester County between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025 highlights shifting priorities and emerging challenges.

In 2024, unmet needs pointed to widespread financial strain and lack of access to supportive services. By 2025, housing and shelter unmet needs increased to 24%, signaling a deepening housing crisis. New unmet needs also emerged, including food support, general medical care, and public assistance programs, each at 10%.

Top Needs Identified for Cumberland County

Cumberland County accounted for 1% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. Data from Cumberland County reveals several key shifts in needs from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025. The most striking change is in mental health counselling, which dropped dramatically from 30% in 2024 to just 6% in 2025.

Meanwhile, food support rose to become the top unmet need in 2025 at 11%, up from around 7% the previous year, highlighting a growing concern around food insecurity. Overall, the data suggests that while requests for mental health counselling may have decreased, basic living supports—especially food and housing—remain critical needs in Cumberland County.

Unmet Needs Identified for Cumberland County

In 2025 Q1, 13% of the total referrals in Cumberland County were recorded as being unmet. The comparison of unmet needs data for Cumberland County between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025 reveals a growing concern around access to health-related services and basic necessities. Between 2024 Q1 and 2025 Q1, unmet needs for health supportive services more than doubled to 27%, making it the most significant gap, while food support emerged as a major concern at 18%. Temporary financial assistance and outpatient health facilities also appeared among the top unmet needs, both at 9%.

Top Needs Identified for Digby County

Digby County accounted for 1% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. The needs comparison chart for Digby for Q1 2024 and Q1 2025 shows growing needs in several critical areas. Most notably, housing and shelter has become the top concern, rising sharply from around 9% in 2024 to 18% in 2025, indicating a worsening housing crisis in the region.

Mental health counselling, utility support, and food support all saw increases pointing to rising cost-of-living pressures. Overall, the data indicates that housing, mental health, and basic necessities like food and utilities are escalating concerns in Digby County.

Unmet Needs Identified for Digby County

In the first quarter of 2025, 20% of the total referrals in Digby County were recorded as being unmet. Notably, housing and shelter emerged as the most pressing unmet need in 2025 Q1, spiking to 29% from a much lower level the previous year. Temporary financial assistance and utility support also saw substantial increases in unmet needs in 2025, rising to 24% and 19%, respectively. In contrast, employment was the dominant unmet need in 2024 Q1, but significantly dropped in 2025. Health supportive services saw a marked improvement, decreasing from 20% in 2024 to just 10% in 2025. The data suggests that while efforts to address employment and health support needs have seen success, there is a growing affordability crisis in the Digby region.

Top Needs Identified for Guysborough County

Guysborough County accounted for 1% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. The top needs for Guysborough County highlights a dramatic shift in needs from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025, with several categories showing significant increases. That said, the demographics of service users in Guysborough County differ from the provincial norm, with a concentration in the 65+ age group.

Overall, the comparison of needs underscores a concerning rise in core needs related to cost of living and mental health in Guysborough County, suggesting an urgent need for targeted interventions in utility support, housing, and mental health care.

Unmet Needs Identified for Guysborough County

In 2025 Q1, 8% of the total referrals in Guysborough County were recorded as being unmet. Guysborough County's unmet needs reveals a significant shift in priorities and gaps in services between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025.

In 2025, health supportive services and utility support emerged as the most pressing needs, each accounting for 25%, a notable increase from the previous year. Food support and general medical care also climbed to 13%, aligning with temporary financial assistance and individual and family support services, which all saw increases to the same level. Overall, the chart suggests that Guysborough County is experiencing rising unmet needs in essential living supports and healthcare, pointing to growing stress on basic needs and health systems.

Top Needs Identified for Halifax County

Halifax County accounted for 39% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. The needs comparison chart for Halifax illustrates subtle but important shifts in needs from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025.

Mental health counselling remained the most prominent need across both years, though it declined significantly from 22% in 2024 to 13% in 2025, which is attributed to the new internal policy. Meanwhile, housing and shelter rose slightly from 9% to 11%, emerging as the second most pressing concern in 2025, indicating increasing strain on housing resources in the region. Food support held steady at 9%, reflecting persistent food insecurity among residents. Other categories—utility support, health supportive services, community services, and information services—remained low and relatively unchanged at 4–5%, signaling either lower demand or more consistent service access.

Unmet Needs Identified for Halifax County

In 2025 Q1, 5% of the total referrals in Halifax County were recorded as being unmet. Housing and shelter unmet needs rose slightly from 13% to 14%, indicating persistent and possibly worsening housing insecurity in the region. Unmet needs relating to utility support also saw a notable increase, climbing from 11% to 13%, pointing to growing challenges in affording or accessing basic services like electricity and heat.

Food support and health supportive services remained steady at 11%, highlighting continuing demand for nutritional and health-related assistance. Overall, this data emphasizes that Halifax County is experiencing sustained high levels of unmet basic needs, particularly in housing, utilities, food, and health, underscoring the need for robust support systems to address these essential issues.

Top Needs Identified for Hants County

Hants County accounted for 2% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. An examination of needs for Hants County highlights shifting priorities between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025. In 2024, mental health counselling stood out as the most pressing concern at 18%, but this dropped significantly to 7% in 2025, likely indicating improved service access due to the internal policy change. In contrast, housing and shelter rose to become the top need in 2025 at 13%, up from 11% the previous year—suggesting increasing housing insecurity in the county.

Other categories such as food support, mental health assessment and treatment, and utility support each registered at 6–7%, with minimal year-over-year variation, pointing to continued need for these supports. Overall, the data indicates a shift from mental health toward housing and essential supports, underscoring the growing strain on living conditions in Hants County.

Unmet Needs Identified for Hants County

In 2025 Q1, 9% of the total referrals in Hants County were recorded as being unmet. In the first quarter of 2025, food support emerged as the most pressing unmet need at 16%, followed by utilities (13%) and housing and shelter (9%), all of which were not identified as top needs in 2024. This suggests increasing financial and housing instability in the region.

Additionally, mental health assessment and treatment, as well as health supportive services, remain ongoing concerns at 6% each. Conversely, previously high unmet needs such as temporary financial assistance (20% in 2024), transportation, and outpatient health facilities have declined or dropped off entirely, indicating either improved access or a reprioritization in the face of more immediate needs. Overall, the data points to a growing urgency around foundational supports as Hants County residents face heightened economic pressures.

Top Needs Identified for Inverness County

Inverness County accounted for 1% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. The comparison of top needs shows a relatively stable landscape with some notable shifts. Mental health counselling remains a top concern, though it decreased from 20% in 2024 to 12% in 2025—still the highest reported need for this period. Food support and housing and shelter needs have both risen to 11% in 2025, indicating a growing demand for basic need support. Public assistance programs also appeared as a new concern in 2025 at 7%, while utility support and information services, which featured in 2024, are no longer among the most pressing needs.

Unmet Needs Identified for Inverness County

In 2025 Q1, 22% of the total referrals in Inverness County were recorded as being unmet.

The comparison of unmet needs in Inverness County highlights an intensification in core areas of need, particularly food support, which rose from 32% to 38%, making it the most pressing need in 2025. Temporary financial assistance also saw a notable rise, jumping from 13% to 21%, while housing and shelter needs increased slightly to 13%. These increases suggest growing economic hardship and housing insecurity among residents.

Top Needs Identified for Kings County

Kings County accounted for 3% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. In 2024, mental health counselling stood out as the most significant need at 20%, but in 2025 it dropped sharply to just 6%, possibly reflecting improved service access or a redirection of urgent focus. Conversely, housing and shelter resources increased to become the most requested need in 2025 at 13%, suggesting growing concerns around housing security. Food support and community services each rose slightly to 7%, indicating a steady or increasing reliance. Overall, this shift signals a move toward immediate material needs like shelter, food, and community-based support, pointing to rising socioeconomic stress in Kings County.

Unmet Needs Identified for Kings County

In 2025 Q1, 10% of the total referrals for people located in Kings County were recorded as being unmet with health supportive services emerging as the most requested resource at 18%. Food support, material goods, and housing and shelter all rose, suggesting an increase in basic need supports. The consistent presence of utilities across both years points to an ongoing affordability issue. Overall, these changes in need suggest an increasing urgency around physical health, basic needs, and housing stability in Kings County.

Top Needs Identified for Lunenburg County

Lunenburg County accounted for 3% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. Based on the comparison of identified needs in Lunenburg County between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025, housing and shelter needs continue to be the top priority, as it has surged to 16%—the highest reported need in 2025 and a significant increase from the previous year. This points to growing housing insecurity and the urgent need for affordable, accessible housing solutions. Additionally, consistent levels of need for health supportive services, individual and family support, information services, and community services—all around 6%—suggest that social supports remain essential.

Unmet Needs Identified for Lunenburg County

In 2025 Q1, 7% of the total referrals for people located in Lunenburg County were recorded as being unmet. Individual and family support emerged as the most pressing unmet need in 2025 at 19%, highlighting a growing demand. Outpatient health facilities held steady at 15%, indicating ongoing difficulties in accessing primary and specialized care. Unmet needs related to donor services stem from a shortage of local organizations that accept donated goods.

Top Needs Identified for Pictou County

Pictou County accounted for 3% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. The evolution of top needs in Pictou County between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025 reveals a clear intensification of housing insecurity and growing pressure on basic needs. Housing and shelter needs increased significantly from 9% in 2024 to 15% in 2025, becoming the most prominent concern. Food support also rose, reflecting heightened concern around food access. While individual and family support and health supportive services remained relatively stable, mental health counselling and utilities, which were more prominent in 2024, saw noticeable declines in 2025. This shift may indicate that residents are increasingly focused on securing core necessities such as housing and food, potentially deprioritizing mental health and utility-related issues in the face of more immediate needs.

Unmet Needs Identified for Pictou County

Top Needs Identified for Queens County

Queens County accounted for 3% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in the first quarter of 2025. The comparison of identified needs in Queens County between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025 shows a shift in both the types and intensity of needs.

Housing and shelter remains the top need, rising slightly from 12% in 2024 to 13% in 2025, indicating sustained pressure on affordable housing in the area. Interestingly, utility support, which was the highest need in 2024 at 16%, has disappeared from the top needs in 2025, potentially due to improved access or shifts in priority.

The emergence of tax organization services (6%) and information services (7%) in 2025 suggests increasing demand for administrative and navigation support—possibly driven by financial strain or confusion around accessing services. Overall, Queens County appears to be facing persistent housing challenges, while also experiencing a growing need for system navigation and financial-related support.

Unmet Needs Identified for Queens County

In 2025 Q1, 11% of the total referrals for people located in Queens County were recorded as being unmet. The comparison of unmet needs in Queens County between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025 highlights a dramatic shift in community priorities and emerging gaps in services. In 2025, material goods and outpatient health facilities surfaced as the most urgent unmet needs, both at 22%, displacing last year’s top concerns. Additionally, new unmet needs, including donor services, domestic animal services, and transportation—each appeared at 11%, suggesting a broader range of support gaps in the community. The decline of traditional needs like financial aid and individual and family support from the top of the list could reflect either improvements in those areas or a shift in urgency toward more tangible and immediate concerns.

Top Needs Identified for Richmond County

Richmond County accounted for less than 1% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. The comparison of top identified needs in Richmond County between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025 reveals a noticeable shift in priorities.

Community services rose to the top of the list in 2025 at 12%, indicating a growing need for administrative support and advocacy. Utility support and food support also became more prominent needs in 2025, both at 9% and 8% respectively, pointing to increasing economic pressures on households. Meanwhile, transportation and health supportive services remained consistent across both years, highlighting ongoing challenges.

Unmet Needs Identified for Richmond County

In 2025 Q1, 8% of the total referrals for people located in Richmond County were recorded as being unmet. The comparison of unmet needs reveals a shift in the types of support residents are struggling to access. In 2025 Q1, residents of Richmond County struggled to find resources to assist with utility support, which resulted in the unmet need rising from 30% to 50%, reflecting worsening affordability.

Top Needs Identified for Shelburne County

Shelburne County accounted for less than 1% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. The evolution of identified needs in Shelburne County between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025 shows a shift in community concerns, particularly toward mental health and housing. Mental health counselling rose to the top in 2025 at 14%, reflecting either rising demand or growing awareness of mental health resources in the region. Housing and shelter, while slightly lower than in 2024, remains a critical issue at 13%, suggesting continued instability. Meanwhile, food support emerged more prominently in 2025 at 8%, underscoring deepening economic pressures.

Unmet Needs Identified for Shelburne County

In 2025 Q1, 16% of the total referrals for people located in Shelburne County were recorded as being unmet. The comparison of unmet needs in Shelburne County between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025 highlights an alarming and persistent housing crisis. Housing and shelter remained the most critical unmet need, holding steady at a high 44% in both years, underscoring an urgent and unresolved issue. In 2025, a number of other unmet needs appeared at equal levels—food support, utilities, transportation, individual and family support, and temporary financial assistance—each at 11%, reflecting a broad spectrum of needs that are going unaddressed.

Top Needs Identified for Victoria County

Victoria County accounted for less than 1% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. The comparison of top identified needs in Victoria County between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025 shows both consistency and emerging shifts in community priorities.

Housing and shelter remains a high priority need in both years, holding steady at 13–16%, reflecting ongoing concerns around housing stability and affordability. Notably, mental health counselling rose to 13% in 2025, becoming one of the most pressing needs, alongside a steady 10% for mental health assessment & treatment, indicating a heightened awareness and demand for mental health support. Overall, Victoria County is experiencing a shift toward mental health and income-related supports, while still grappling with long-standing housing concerns.

Unmet Needs Identified for Victoria County

In 2025 Q1, 7% of the total referrals for people located in Victoria County were recorded as being unmet. Unmet needs related to housing and shelter resources remains high—though slightly decreased from 68% in 2024 to 50% in 2025.

Top Needs Identified for Yarmouth County

Yarmouth County accounted for 1% of all identified 211 Nova Scotia contacts handled in 2025 Q1. The needs comparison for Yarmouth County between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025 shows an escalation of housing issues, with housing and shelter needs rising from 14% in 2024 to 19% in 2025, making it the most pressing concern. This increase highlights a growing strain on affordable and stable housing options in the region. At the same time, several other categories—including food support, mental health counselling, and individual and family support—have slightly declined, though they remain significant. Notably, mental health assessment and treatment and health supportive services emerged in 2025 at 5% each, pointing to rising awareness of healthcare needs.

Unmet Needs Identified for Yarmouth County

In 2025 Q1, 8% of the total referrals for people located in Yarmouth County were recorded as being unmet. The unmet needs comparison for Yarmouth County between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025 reveals a sharp increase in demand for fundamental resources. In 2025, material goods (e.g., clothing, hygiene items, household essentials) emerged as the top unmet need at 44%, a category that was not among the most pressing in 2024, suggesting rising poverty and instability. Housing and shelter needs also increased significantly, climbing from 20% in 2024 to 33% in 2025, reinforcing the notion of deepening housing insecurity. Additionally, health supportive services became a more prominent unmet need at 22%, pointing to growing challenges in accessing health-related assistance.