Protest around temporary homeless shelters in Halifax. (CREDIT: Steve MacArthur)
Multiple arrests, police in riot gear and chaos in downtown Halifax.
Protests started soon after the city announced they were going to dismantle all tents and crisis shelters on municipal property.
The protestors and police clashed on numerous occasions and people could be seen washing pepper spray out of their eyes. The situation only got worse throughout the day.
The shelters have been popping up as a band-aid solution to expensive rent and low vacancy rates.
Situation is getting intense on Spring Garden in front of the old library another woman was just arrested after jumping on a municipal truck and screaming at police. #nspoli pic.twitter.com/pFszoUxNeL
— Steve MacArthur (@Steve_Mac_NS) August 18, 2021
Police officers started cruising through city parks on bikes on Wednesday morning, waking up those who have been staying in the tents, and forcing them to leave.
Pictures are flooding social media, showing officers stopping at several parks to remove the homeless, travelling by foot and riding bicycles.
Police have now surrounded one of the tents #halifax pic.twitter.com/HoAkfOFU12
— Drew Moore (@PictouDM) August 18, 2021
HRM has issued a statement to say the tent occupants were handed written notice earlier this week to vacate immediately and to take their belongings with them.
The statement says the action is necessary as the recent rise in tent numbers is a health and safety risk, and they’ve also received complaints from the public.
“The municipality continues to balance its obligation to enforce the rules and regulations with its commitment to an empathy-based approach to homeless encampments that recognizes the human dignity of people experiencing homelessness,” the statement says. “This approach does not condone or support the installation of infrastructure associated with encampments and requires that steps be taken to address demonstrated risks to the health and safety of occupants or the public.”
The city says they will enforce the rules when it’s necessary, but adds the first step will always be an educational approach.
Residents have told me that the cops arrived very early in the morning, waking them up and telling them to clear out with roughly 20 cops present
—
Hannah
(@Red_Hannah_HFX) August 18, 2021
Meantime, a local group which has been building small crisis shelters in the city for those who are without a home has issued a plea to the public on social media.
Halifax Mutual Aid says the mass eviction has been cloaked in the media’s focus on the election results. The group is asking residents to sound the alarm online.
URGENT!
Word is @hfxgov has ordered @HfxRegPolice & city staff to forcibly remove everyone living in tent & shelter encampments. This violence & disregard for human life is shocking. Our unhoused friends & neighbours need your help. Please DM us if u r available Wednesday morning— MutualAidHFX (@MutualAidHfx) August 18, 2021
Tensions began to heat up later in the day when protestors answered the call of Halifax Mutual Aid and formed a human wall around the temporary crisis shelters near Spring Garden Road.
Reporters for various media outlets say they’ve been threatened with arrest for being stationed in the area. The Canadian Association of Journalists has taken to social media to express concern with the limits police are placing on reporters who are trying to cover the event.
We are concerned about the limits police are placing on reporters covering the dismantling of these shelters.
We emphasize that reporters have the right to be there.
If you are facing impediments to you coverage please DM us or email brent@caj.ca. https://t.co/iWWVr88b8Y
— Canadian Association of Journalists (@caj) August 18, 2021
Over the last few months, HRM has been working with the province to offer help through Street Outreach Navigators and housing support workers, by posting signage, and informing residents they cannot place a temporary dwelling on city property.
Residents have also been offered a range of options and temporary accommodations to help bridge the gap to permanent housing.
With files from Steve MacArthur
