- December 16, 2025
The doors of Halifax Urban Ministries shelters will not be closing thanks to a recent $80,000 donation.
After losing a federal grant for $80,000 that the organization uses to keep its 24 hour shelter open, the local community came together and raised $15,000 through small donations. An anonymous donor made a $80,000 check to HUM last week.
“We received a call early one morning from a man who asked about the shelter program and grant loss,” Director of Development for HUM Mark Geallis said in a press release. “After talking for a few minutes, he said he would be making a donation. When asked what range gift he was considering, he said the entire $80,000 amount of the unfunded HUD grant. Later that day he came to our main office and blessed HUM and those we serve with the check. The donor wishes to remain anonymous but stated ‘I am sure there are numerous other charities that needed donations as much as yours but my wife and I both felt we would like to help in our own community. It is our pleasure to give back as God has given to us.’”
The donation fully met the immediate need created by the lost grant and will insure the shelter can continue to operate for the next year, but funding is still needed to help overcome a shortfall created by the loss of two other grants over the past few years. The shelter has an annual budget of $260,000 and Halifax Urban Ministries total annual budget for all 4 of its homeless prevention and intervention programs is $1,500,000.
