Halifax will open a new designated tent site and increase support to overcrowded encampments to help address homelessness, but are asking the provincial government to pay for a tool that city staff say could have the most impact.
On Tuesday, Halifax regional council talked at length about how to keep people safe inside encampment sites and reduce their impacts on surrounding neighbours and businesses.
Municipal staff said there are about 125 people sleeping rough in Halifax across four designated sites and other spaces like the Halifax Common, but that could hit 300 people this summer if the same growth continues. There were also 1,257 people on the by name list as of last Tuesday, which tracks people experiencing homelessness in Halifax.
“We can’t ignore it. There are times we have to deal with the world as it is, not as we would like it to be, and I think this is one of those times,” said Coun. Sam Austin.
“The province is not gonna fix all of our issues here — we’re gonna to have to do it.”
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