A new poll conducted by the Atlantic Canadian firm MQO Research, suggests people are deeply unsatisfied with how the Halifax Regional Municipality has handled the housing and homelessness crisis in the city.
According to the poll, only 14 percent believe the HRM was “doing a good or very good job at addressing homelessness in HRM.” On top of that, 56 percent of those surveyed believe the stock of affordable housing in the city is inadequate.
The provincial government also got a low grade on its response (or lack thereof) to the housing and homelessness crisis. About 17 percent of Nova Scotians surveyed said the province was doing “good or very good” on the issue. A whopping 85 percent believe the provincial government needs to invest more money into permanent affordable housing.
(Temporary Shelters in Downtown Halifax Credit: Steve MacArthur)
“There is a clear recognition that insecure housing is a problem and not just a problem that is being faced by Halifax but across the province,” said Lianne Sarson, a vice president at MQO Research.
The housing crisis in Halifax has been a bubbling issue for years, but on August 18, it boiled over. In downtown Halifax, police officers and protestors clashed when the city decided to evict people living in temporary shelters on public land.
Protesters clash with police after a woman is arrested on Spring Garden Road. Credit: Steve MacArthur
The pictures and videos made news nationwide and made city officials look unsympathetic to the housing crisis. But the survey indicates most Nova Scotians are sympathetic to the problem, with 58 percent saying people should be allowed to camp on public land if emergency shelters are full.
People between the ages of 18-34 are even more in favour of the encampments, with 71 per cent of people surveyed expressing support.
Our latest poll shows Nova Scotian’s believe homelessness is a significant concern. #nspoli pic.twitter.com/0tHr4KsITQ
— MQO Research (@MQOResearch) August 25, 2021
This post originally appeared on Huddle.Today, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
With files from Steve MacArthur
