Incorporated in 1982, the W. Williams Non Profit Housing Association was named after a prominent African Nova Scotian teacher, social advocate and activist from the Annapolis Valley, Wilhelmina Williams. In the early 1990’s, after community consultation concerning its name and knowledge of its programs, the organization changed its name to Alice Housing and registered as such in 1994. Alice was Wilhelmina Williams’ middle name.

Wilhelmenia Williams (or Willy to her friends) was born in Gibson Woods, Nova Scotia in 1914.  Wilhelmenia began her teaching career in the 1930’s after graduating from the Normal College in Truro, N.S.  She eventually earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Acadia University.  Wilhelmenia taught in several segregated schools in Nova Scotia ending her teaching career after 37 years at Hants West Junior High School.  A fierce advocate of the rights of women and social justice, Wilhelmenia often mentored young women both emotionally and financially with their educational and career goals.  She was a member of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union, Black Educators Association and the Cunard Baptist Church.  Wilhelmenia was also a world traveller and provided many presentations to communities on her experiences and travels.  She was a member of the Inglewood Players and excelled in music and theatre.  She died in her home in 1977 and was not aware of the legacy she left in the form of Alice Housing.

The first clients of Alice Housing arrived in March of 1983, as the organization opened its doors with 16 units in three properties located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Staffed by only the Executive Director, project funding enabled ad-hoc counselling programs to exist sporadically until 1998, when an additional staff person was added to offer counselling as needed. In 2001, a full-time Women’s Counsellor was hired to meet the growing therapeutic needs of women leaving domestic violence. In 2004, a Drop-In Centre and youth building were purchased supported by funding from the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative. Due to ongoing sustainability challenges, the youth building was sold in 2007.

In 2006, with seed funding from the Community Mobilization Program, a long standing gap in services was filled with the creation of Healing the Bruises, a therapeutic counselling program for child witnesses of domestic abuse. With program outcomes far exceeding expectations, in 2007 Healing the Bruises became a full-time component of the Alice Housing program.

Second stage housing refers to longer term safe housing, following a stay in transition housing. With 18 units, Alice Housing is the one of the largest and oldest second stage housing organizations in Canada and the largest in Atlantic Canada. In the last decade, the organization has become a leader in the Second Stage housing movement in Canada and is a charter member of the Federal Alliance of Second Stage Housing Providers. Alice Housing has been repeatedly recognized for its work by the Donner Foundation, which awards non-profit social services agencies deemed to be the best operated in Canada. Most recently Alice Housing was regionally granted the Ethics Award for Non Profits by the Better Business Bureau of The Maritime Provinces, which recognizes organizations for their high ethical and professional standards and the Peter F. Drucker Award for Non-Profit Management in Canada.