'We have never seen this number before': Truro grapples with growing homeless encampment

Near the exit to Truro, N.S., a cluster of colorful tents and a lone RV can be seen alongside Highway 102, some tucked under the overpass for shelter from the elements. 

Since the summer, a group of around 15 people has come to live there. They're mostly men, but some women too, their ages ranging from about 17 to 63. The biggest thing they have in common is they can't find or keep housing. 

"In terms of housing, folks just aren't able to afford a place," said Davy Rose, the outreach co-ordinator with Truro Housing Outreach Society, a non-profit that runs the only homeless shelter in town.

Rose tracks the data and says 42 people are living outside in and around the town of less than 13,000 people, and that number is growing. 

The area's two municipalities are grappling with more people on the streets and more people at risk of losing their housing. The local shelter that can accommodate up to 25 people is full every night.

By all accounts, this is the first time a significant encampment has formed in the rural area. 

"There have always been homeless people, but we have never seen this number before to my knowledge," said Christine Blair, mayor of the Municipality of the County of Colchester, which covers the areas surrounding the Town of Truro. 

"The price of food is up, the price of rent is up, the cost of living is huge. It's impacting everyone."

Blair said the encampment is in her municipality but it is on provincially-owned land. It's also on a floodplain, which causes her great concern. But she said it has not come up in council to designate a more suitable location for tenting and provide municipal supports, like what's being done in Halifax.

She said the municipality won't be providing any services at the encampment and looks to the Truro Housing Outreach Society to do this work. 

"We don't interfere with the work of organizations that are specifically designated to do that type of thing. What we would do is assist them financially if they applied for a grant through the municipality," said Blair, adding the municipality provided $38,000 to homeless-serving organizations last year. 

Blair said she doesn't want to see people living outside at all and hopes they'll find permanent housing. 

But Rose said it's not that easy. 

Rose said everyone in the encampment is on the Truro Housing Outreach Society's caseload. The outreach team does what they can, like helping people get identification and necessary documentation, and stopping by regularly to provide survival gear, tarps, tents and food.