City council is set to spend to find temporary homes for people living rough in Halifax.
During a special meeting on Tuesday, councillors unanimously approved $500,000 in emergency funding to create more temporary housing options.
It’s the result of public pressure in the face of a massive protest in front of the old Halifax Memorial Library on August 18 when activists (and the public) clashed with police in riot gear over the removal of tents and temporary crisis shelters on city property.
Roughly 24 people were arrested as officers tried to control hostile crowds with force and pepper spray.
A video showing the police using pepper spray during yesterday’s protest in downtown Halifax. Credit: Nova Scotia Advocate. pic.twitter.com/rjFNMcaUVX
— Steve MacArthur (@Steve_Mac_NS) August 19, 2021
Mayor Mike Savage put forward the motion at the beginning of the meeting but was adamant HRM will spend more if they need to.
“It’s time for us to pull out all the stops,” Savage said. “If that means directing more money to crisis housing…. we need to do it. If it means municipal land to rapidly address the housing crisis…. then let’s not waste any more time.”
CAO Jacques Dube will manage the funds and will provide regular updates on how it’s being spent. It’s expected he’ll report back to council on a monthly basis with progress reports.
“Staff will make a list of properties and buildings, along with hotels, that can be used to house people this winter,” Dube said. “Our goal will be to increase the inventory of temporary accommodations and ensure social services are available at those locations.”
Street navigators indicate there are 81 people in need of an urgent housing solution in Halifax but there’s roughly 400 houseless people in the city.
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
Savage and other councillors heavily criticized past provincial governments for not dealing with the housing situation and allowing it to reach this stage.
“No provincial government in Nova Scotia has taken the steps needed on housing…but today it is at a new level in the public dialogue,” Savage stated. “We have a new provincial government and I have some confidence they will see this as the urgent issue it is…but what I do know is we (HRM) are prepared to act and not let things get worse.”
“That’s not our city and that’s not the city we are going to have where people have no place to go”
The anonymous group known as Halifax Mutual Aid (HMA) has been building wooden huts as a band-aid solution to a lack of housing options in the city. They first started popping up on city property in January.
The small wooden shelters cost about $1,400 to build in materials and have a door which locks. They are protected by a tin roof, have a window in the back and are wrapped to protect the huts from the elements.
Two crisis shelters at the old library on Spring Garden Road in Halifax. (Credit: Steve MacArthur)
They are built when a request is made to the group, the person is then given a key and they are assembled at their desired location.
There were 14 of them scattered through the Halifax area, but several were dismantled on Aug. 18 which sparked the protests.
Councillor Tony Mancini addressed the social media onslaught elected officials with the city have withstood since the order to remove tents and shelters was given.
“It has been a difficult time in HRM and most difficult for those living rough (houseless),” Mancini explained. “For us, we have heard numerous times, that his council doesn’t care…but I can tell you we do care. This council has done more for housing than any other.”
“Previous council would never entertain this motion we are passing today. The province has to the lead. Every political party promises to be different. We have a new premier and Tim Houston if you’re going to be different, here is your opportunity.”
