Halifax council approves 9 new sites for homeless encampments

Halifax councillors have approved a list of parks where new designated homeless encampments could go as a "pressure release," because the handful of current sites are overcrowded and only hold about half of the 150 people sleeping rough in the city.

As of June 25, there were 88 tents or structures in Halifax's four designated sites for people experiencing homelessness, which have a total capacity of 30. There were also 13 tents at Northbrook Park in Dartmouth, nine at the old Halifax Memorial Library, and multiple encampments at other non-designated urban sites, with more in rural areas.

"What an awful choice. Our choice right now is which of our public spaces are we going to give up," Coun. Sam Austin said during Tuesday's council meeting.

The by-name list that tracks people experiencing homelessness in Halifax has also grown to 1,316 people.

After scanning hundreds of parks around the municipality, staff suggested a list of 10 that fit the criteria of not being too close to schools, playgrounds, gardens, or culturally sensitive areas, and were close to transit routes and other services.

Bill Moore, executive director of Halifax's community safety department, said staff tried to balance the needs of people sleeping rough with the impacts to people living near encampments.

"We're really looking for the best of the worst options," Moore said. "This would be a small pressure release but if we continue to see the increase in numbers … we will be looking for additional spaces."

After a lengthy debate, council agreed to a list of nine parks city staff can open as needed:

Staff suggested opening a few parks in the first round, including Cogswell Park on Windsor Street, Glebe Street Park in the north end, and part of the Halifax Common near the Oval, then revisiting the list as required.

"Every time we start this conversation, we need to make it perfectly clear ... that this is a provincial responsibility and we are just doing what we can with the resources that we have," said Coun. Lisa Blackburn.

Council passed Austin's request to swap Starr Park on Prince Albert Road for the Geary Street space. Austin said as painful as it would be to reopen the Geary Street site that was decommissioned earlier this year, it was still better than Starr Park, which has a busy walking trail and many surrounding residents.

Farrell Street Park in north Dartmouth was also removed based on Coun. Tony Mancini's suggestion, because the city has spent money fixing up the area to improve safety, installing new lighting and gardens and clearing a path after the death of 18-year-old Chelsie Probert in the park.

It's unclear how many tent sites would be allowed at each encampment, or exactly when they would open. There would be municipal supports like water and porta-potties, as well as fencing if required.

Moore said opening more sites allows municipal staff and street navigators to move people from the overcrowded University Avenue site, which is seeing violence and impacts on people who work or visit nearby hospitals.