Municipal statement on March 20, 2025
This morning, the Halifax Regional Municipality took steps to remove tents located on the Halifax Common. Over the last several months, people experiencing homelessness have been sheltering at this site, which is not a designated location.
Read the March 20, 2025 Municipal statement regarding the Halifax Common.
Working with the province to make better options available
Indoor sheltering and supportive housing options are provided by the Province of Nova Scotia and their service providers. Some charities and community groups also offer indoor options, often with funding from the province.
Indoor sheltering and supportive housing options are better options than sleeping rough. They provide a dry space, electricity, running water, showers, laundry services, regular meals and a place to store belongings. They also provide on-site access to much needed supports and a pathway to longer-term housing options.
While the province is responsible to lead addressing homelessness in all of Nova Scotia’s municipalities, the Halifax Regional Municipality also has an important role to play – and is committed to applying resources to support efforts aimed at helping to address homelessness and increase the capacity of better options for those sleeping rough in the Halifax region.
- Latest information about recent & ongoing efforts.
- Details about the municipality's approach to homelessness.
As housing insecurity continues to be an issue in the region, work with community partners and other orders of government has significantly accelerated, and collaboration has expanded to help address both affordable housing and homelessness.
The Province of Nova Scotia has the mandate to provide:
- Public housing and programs for people with low to modest income
- Affordable housing throughout the province, including housing options for those experiencing homelessness
To find information on community groups and not-for-profit and charitable organizations in our region supporting those experiencing homelessness, please visit the 211 website.
The municipality’s vision
The vision is that every resident of the Halifax Regional Municipality has a safe, supportive and sustainable home and that all homes are purposely constructed for long-term habitation, built to safety codes and standards, and in a suitable location based on municipal planning strategies, with access to transportation and amenities. The municipality is committed to working with all orders of government, service providers and communities to realize this vision.
Video series
Answers to Commonly Asked Questions about Homelessness
The homelessness crisis is impacting communities across Canada and beyond. One of the people working to help address homelessness in our region is Max Chauvin, Director of Housing & Homelessness with the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Max regularly hears from residents who want to learn more about this serious topic, including what is being done to support those experiencing homelessness. Through this informational video series, you will hear from Max, and partners, in an effort to address your questions. Choose a video below or watch the entire series here.
- What is the difference between being homeless and sleeping rough?
- Service providers. Who are they and what do they do?
- What residents can do to help?
- What is the role of a Street Navigator?
- Who are the people experiencing homelessness?
- The importance of indoor sheltering and supportive housing options.
Designated locations
Designated locations are areas of municipal spaces where those experiencing homelessness can camp for the purpose of sheltering. They are a temporary response to the homelessness crisis while people sleeping rough wait for appropriate supportive housing or indoor shelter options from the Province of Nova Scotia and their service providers. Municipal staff regularly visit designated locations to ensure adequate services are provided and mitigate issues where possible. For more information on designated locations, see Common Questions.
Below are the current designated outdoor sheltering locations. A map of each can be seen by selecting the location name.
- Barrington Street green space (Proposed occupancy: 12 tents)
- Cogswell Park* (Proposed occupancy: 8 tents)
- Geary Street green space* (Proposed occupancy: 8 tents)
*Designated as of July 29, 2024 - Green Road Park (Proposed occupancy: 8 tents)
- Lower Flinn Park (Proposed occupancy: 4 tents)
Potential designated locations
- Bayers Road Windsor Street Park (Halifax)
- BiHi Park (Halifax)
- Bisset Road (Dartmouth)
- Chain Lake Park (Halifax)
- Glebe Street Park (Halifax)
- Halifax Common (berm) (Halifax)
- Point Pleasant Park (Halifax)
Note - as of March 20, 2025, the Halifax Common is a prohibited location and therefore is no longer being considered as a potential designated location.
The municipality remains focused on ensuring those sleeping rough are provided better alternatives, working toward having safer, long-term housing options for everyone who needs them. The municipality is committed to supporting the province in developing long-term housing solutions.
If any of these sites are opened as designated locations, that information will be shared publicly, including the specific section or area permitted for sleeping rough. Information regarding the designation of Cogswell Park and Geary Street Green Space was shared on July 29.
To open any of the potential designated sites, detailed site preparation will first need to be completed by municipal staff.
Locations on this list will only open after the completion of required planning. This will include preparation for supports to people sleeping rough at designated locations and mitigating potential community impacts.
The municipality has explored other options, including privately owned land and sought other space for encampments from provincial and federal governments. The municipality does not support encampments or tenting for those experiencing homelessness. The potential use of new sites is a temporary response to the homelessness crisis. This list will allow the municipality to adjust to the changing levels of demand. If any sites are opened as designated locations, it would be a temporary measure until appropriate sheltering and housing options become available from the Province of Nova Scotia.
Municipal staff continue to regularly visit the existing four designated locations to ensure the services are adequate and to mitigate issues where possible. Municipal staff will also continue coordinating with the Province of Nova Scotia and their service providers to ensure those experiencing homelessness have access to the support they need.