Halifax plans for new homeless encampments as current ones fill up

Halifax is planning to open more designated sites for people experiencing homelessness, as the number of unhoused individuals in the municipality continues to grow and encampments become more cramped. 

According to a new staff report, four designated tenting locations are over capacity with more people regularly moving in. Meanwhile, tents and other structures are going up in non-designated locations, including in Dartmouth's Northbrook Park, Halifax Common and Point Pleasant Park.

Max Chauvin, the municipality's director of housing and homelessness, said there are between 60 and 70 people sleeping rough in the city. And while "great options" are coming from the province, he said, the timing has not lined up.

A tiny-home community for 62 unhoused people in Lower Sackville won't be ready until the fall, while most of the 100 individual Pallet shelters earmarked for Halifax also aren't in place.

"The challenge is how do we support some of those folks right now," said Chauvin.

The report described designated encampments as a temporary "necessity," but it cautioned they are not a solution. It noted encampments are often unsafe for people living in them and become issues for the surrounding community.

No specific locations for the new sites were identified in the report. Chauvin said he would discuss how many might be needed with regional council at next month's meeting.

The report said people will not be allowed to sleep rough in locations that were recently de-designated as encampments, including Grand Parade, the Geary Street green space, and Victoria and Saunders parks.

Other prohibited locations continue to be sites within 50 metres of a school or daycare, on active sports fields, within cemeteries, on bridges or docks, near playgrounds or recreation facilities, or in highly inaccessible spaces.

People sheltering in these areas will get an eviction notice and an outreach worker will connect with them to offer support. Others who have set up tents in non-designated sites that aren't in these prohibited areas may be granted more time to explore their options. 

The city will offer free storage options for anyone staying at a shelter or encampment, and there will be new signs and handouts to inform people of their options when sleeping rough.

Porta-potties and water will continue to be supplied at designated locations, but the municipality won't be providing power for now. It may be provided during colder months.

Safe disposal containers for needles are being placed in encampments in hopes of discouraging residents from discarding them in porta-potties, which Chauvin said has caused an issue for the companies supplying the portable toilets and emptying them.

As of April 16, there were 1,211 people on the by-name list that tracks people experiencing homelessness in Halifax. Recently, the report said the list has grown about four per cent a month. It noted the number of unhoused people is likely greater because it may not include people who are couch surfing or staying in their cars.