Halifax's plan for mobile showers doesn't address root cause of homelessness, prof says

A Dalhousie University social work professor says a proposed mobile shower pilot project for people experiencing homelessness in Halifax is "a Band-Aid solution."

A Halifax council staff report recommends the city approve renting portable shower facilities for nine weeks at a cost of $16,999. It will be discussed at Tuesday's meeting.

Jeff Karabanow, who is a director of the Dalhousie School of Social Work community clinic, said the measure addresses the need for basic hygiene. But he said the better remedy would be to ensure people have access to safe, supportive and affordable housing.

Karabanow said mobile shower units are effective in places where homeless populations are larger and stable housing options are unavailable.

"We don't have that large population," he said. "We could really be putting all the resources around these Band-Aid solutions into something that's more permanent."

The staff report says there were 400 homeless people in Halifax as of Aug. 10. That is twice as many as the year before.

Halifax is in the grips of an affordable housing shortage.