Dalhousie researchers release study on homelessness, COVID-19 ‘disaster’

'One of our findings from the study was that the (COVID) pandemic was a disaster but homelessness ... was a disaster way before the pandemic,' said a Dalhousie University' prof.

Social science and humanities researchers from Dalhousie University have been studying the homelessness situation in Nova Scotia and the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the two affect each other.

Jeff Karabanow, professor and associate director at Dalhousie University’s School of Social Work says the pandemic has only intensified the ongoing struggles of those living without safe housing options amid public health restrictions like lockdowns, which were meant to keep everyone safe. He says the response to the health crisis disproportionately affected those most vulnerable in the community.

“One of our findings from the study was that the pandemic was a disaster but homelessness is also a disaster and it was a disaster way before the pandemic,” said Karabanow.

The study is a snapshot of the homelessness situation in Halifax and in Sydney, N.S. during the first and second waves of the coronavirus pandemic, which saw a handful of Dalhousie health researchers work with homeless participants who shared their experiences from the moment the state of emergency was declared.

The study was conducted between February and April 2020 and focussed on the two largest municipalities in Nova Scotia – the Halifax Regional Municipality and Cape Breton Regional Municipality – where researchers followed and interviewed 28 individuals experiencing homelessness as well 24 service stakeholders.

Karabanow said it was important to act quickly and examine how those who were unhoused and those working in the service sector navigated their way through the challenges of the public health emergency and the ongoing housing crisis.

“Those participants who were experiencing homelessness that we were working with, all said they felt abandoned, they felt like they were completely alone,” said Karabanow. “Just imagine how hard it is to find resources when the city was open, but now you are starting to see the city shut down overnight and there is just nothing for them.”

While Nova Scotians were told to “Stay the blazes home,” the homeless populations and those most marginalized were pushed further to the fringes said Karabanow, as the homeless population already faces disproportionate barriers which were further exacerbated because of the pandemic and subsequent public health lockdowns.