News

:

, ,

Halifax looking for new encampment locations, winter shelter and temporary housing

A group of tents pitched in a park with trees above and a pavement path in front
The recent report from Max Chauvin, director of housing and homelessness included suggestions for new tent encampment sites. Photo by Haeley DiRisio.
Haeley DiRisio - CKDU - Halifax • NS | 18-10-2023
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on pinterest
Share on email
Share on print

The City of Halifax is proposing new areas for tent encampment locations ahead of winter.

Max Chauvin, director of housing and homelessness, gave an updated presentation to the regional council on Tuesday about homelessness in the Halifax Regional Municipality. The presentation made suggestions for new tent encampment sites, looking for a winter shelter and the implementation of Pallet homes throughout the city.

The suggestion for six new designated locations for tent encampments included:

  • Grand Parade (eight or fewer tents).
  • Victoria Park (12 or fewer tents).
  • The berms on University Avenue (six or fewer tents).
  • Martins Park (four or fewer tents).
  • Beaufort Park (four or fewer tents).
  • Saunders Park (eight or fewer tents, if required).

During the presentation, a survey shown from July 2023 saw that 178 people were sleeping rough in HRM and is now believed to have risen to over 200 people with over 10 people becoming homeless every week. The sleeping rough number is expected to double in the next eight months.

As of Oct. 10 the list of names of people looking for stable housing in HRM was at 1,014. 

A winter shelter was also discussed during the presentation which is looking to accommodate around 80 to 100 people but a location has yet to be disclosed by the city.

“At this point without a location there is not much more we can announce,” Chauvin says.

If a location is not found by the end of the week a recreational centre will be used as a winter shelter, Chauvin says.

The city will also be implementing temporary shelters, built by Pallet, and looking at where they can be placed throughout HRM. The provincial government announced plans last week to buy 200 of the Pallet homes for temporary housing across Nova Scotia—100 of them will go to Halifax.

The homes will be put in groups of 10 to 15 with external washrooms and a common space. The shelters are winterized and have power. 

“We would consider some of them as villages with a purpose,” Chauvin says. Such as a “dry” village for those struggling with alcohol addiction. 

Some of the site suggestions for the temporary houses include:

  • Various surplus lands designated for affordable housing. 
  • Parking lot J on the corner of Bell Road and Sackville Street. 
  • A spare side lot at the Sackville Sports Stadium. 
  • Young Street parking lot of the Halifax Forum. 
  • The Green Road encampment site in Dartmouth.

The city is expecting the Pallet shelters to arrive sometime in January and opening in February. 

Listen to the story below:

Download Audio