As Nova Scotia prepares to open a new designated homeless encampment off Windmill Road in Dartmouth, local residents and business owners are calling for strong safety measures before its opening. The site, which has been cleared and gravelled, is expected to be ready in a few weeks. Max Chauvin, the municipality’s director of housing and homelessness, indicated that the site will accommodate fewer than 100 tents, though a final capacity will be determined after a fire assessment.
The encampment comes amid concerns from nearby residents who have reported violence, fires, and discarded needles at other camps. They have requested 24-hour security and effective safety plans. Councillor Tony Mancini emphasized the need for management to prevent tents from spreading across municipal green spaces and pledged to explore security options with Halifax Regional Police.
The city has requested provincial funding for a 24/7 civilian support team, estimated at $4 million, to manage the encampment. However, the province has indicated that while it has invested $1.6 million in outreach teams and budgeted $120 million for homelessness this year, funding a civilian-led response is the municipality’s responsibility.
Chauvin noted that the growing homelessness issue includes individuals displaced by renovictions and rent hikes, exacerbated by the demolition of Ocean Breeze Village. The municipality has also designated other areas, such as Geary Street and Cogswell Park, for temporary encampments to better manage the issue.
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