Places For Me
Barrier-Free Jobs
Employment programs and hiring resources.
No fixed address? Record? Long gap? You can still work.
Finding work in Nova Scotia without a permanent address, with a criminal record, or after a long gap is possible. This page lists employers and programs that have agreed to hire on those terms, plus the local NS Works centres that help you apply.
NS Works — free employment help, walk in anytime
- Free to use, no referral needed, open to everyone
- Services: resume help, job search, interview prep, computer access, fax and printing, employment counselling
- You do not need a permanent address to use NS Works
Locations
NS Works — Halifax (YMCA)
YMCA also operates a satellite location at 7071 Bayers Rd, Suite 104.
NS Works — Dartmouth (YMCA)
NS Works — Sydney (Island Employment)
Call ahead to confirm location.
NS Works — Truro (Futureworx)
NS Works — Amherst (CANSA)
NS Works — Kentville (Community Inc)
NS Works — Yarmouth (Southwest Employment)
Full list: novascotia.ca/lae/employmentcentres. Call 2-1-1 for your nearest centre if not listed above.
A criminal record does not have to stop you
Many employers in NS have agreed not to ask about criminal records or to consider applications regardless of record. You are not required to disclose a record unless the job specifically requires a criminal record check by law (e.g. working with children or vulnerable adults).
John Howard Society NS
- Specifically supports people with criminal records into employment
- Halifax: 902-423-5782
- jobsnotjails.ca
- Services: employment counselling, employer connections, record suspension (pardon) guidance
Record suspension (pardon)
- A record suspension removes your record from the RCMP database for most purposes
- Apply through the Parole Board of Canada — free application, 5–10 year wait period depending on offence
- John Howard Society can help with the application process
- Call 2-1-1 for local support navigating this
Programs built for your situation
People with disabilities — Chrysalis NS
Supported employment for people with intellectual disabilities and acquired brain injuries. Halifax, Dartmouth, and province-wide.
Newcomers to Canada — ISANS
Employment programs for immigrants and refugees: resume translation, credential recognition, employer connections. Halifax-based, some virtual services province-wide.
Indigenous job seekers — Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn (KMK)
Employment and training support for Mi’kmaw people in NS.
Youth (under 30) — Youth Employment NS
Wage subsidies for employers hiring youth, career counselling, and job placement.
Women returning to workforce — YWCA Halifax
Employment programs, skills training, childcare support.
Seniors — CARP / Age-friendly employers
NS has an age-friendly employer certification program.
Employers who have agreed to reduce barriers
The following types of employers in NS are known to hire people facing employment barriers. This list will expand as Places For Me builds relationships with employers — if you are an employer who wants to be listed, contact placesforme.org@gmail.com.
Social enterprises (explicitly hire people facing barriers)
- Souls Harbour Rescue Mission — various positions, all locations
- Brunswick Street Mission — kitchen, admin, outreach roles
- Laing House — peer support worker roles (lived experience of mental health required)
- Direction 180 — harm reduction worker roles
Hospitality (historically flexible on records and gaps)
- Many Halifax restaurants and hotels hire with gaps in employment history
- NS Restaurant and Foodservices Association: nsrfa.ca — can connect with member employers
Construction and trades
- BuildForce Canada has NS programs for people re-entering the workforce
- NSCC trades programs — some with bursaries for people experiencing housing instability
Warehousing and logistics
- Burnside Industrial Park (Dartmouth) has multiple employers known for flexible hiring
- NS Works Dartmouth (112 Wyse Rd) has direct relationships with Burnside employers
Get your SIN first — you need it for almost every job
- You do not need a permanent address to get a SIN
- Apply at any Service Canada location — free, same day
- Halifax: 1800 Argyle Street, Suite 101 — 1-800-206-7218
- Bring: birth certificate or immigration document
- A shelter address works for the mailing address field
- Already have a SIN but lost the card? You don’t need the card — request a confirmation letter instead. Most employers accept this.
See the ID & Docs page for the full step-by-step on getting your ID without a fixed address.
Free resume and interview help
- NS Works centres — free resume help, walk in
- Brunswick Street Mission drop-in — staff help with resumes Mon–Fri 9am–2pm
- Halifax Public Libraries — free computer access and printing; staff can help with basic resume formatting
- ISANS — resume help for newcomers specifically
- John Howard Society — resume help for people with records
If you need a professional email address for job applications and don’t have one, Halifax Public Library computers have Gmail access — library staff can help you set one up for free.
Frequently asked
Do I need a permanent address to get a job?
No. You can use a shelter address on job applications. Most employers do not verify addresses before hiring. For direct deposit, you need a bank account — call 2-1-1 for banks in NS that open accounts without a permanent address.
Can I open a bank account without an address?
Yes. RBC, TD, and some credit unions in NS have programs for people without fixed addresses. Call 2-1-1 or ask your shelter worker — they often have existing relationships with specific bank branches who are used to this.
I haven’t worked in years. Will anyone hire me?
Yes — gaps in employment are common and many employers understand. NS Works can help you explain a gap positively on your resume and in interviews. The social enterprises listed above specifically expect and accommodate employment gaps.
I don’t have a phone number for job applications. What do I use?
Ask your shelter if they have a message-taking number you can use — some shelters do this for residents. Alternatively, Google Voice provides a free phone number; Halifax Public Library computers can help you set one up.
What if I fail a drug test?
Not all jobs require drug tests in NS. John Howard Society and Souls Harbour employment programs work with employers who do not test, or who take a harm reduction approach. Be honest with your employment counsellor — they’ve heard it before and can match you to appropriate employers.