Posted:
Notification
This morning, the Halifax Regional Municipality engaged directly with individuals at the Cogswell Park de-designated location to move forward with the closure process.
On Wednesday, Aug. 20, the municipality announced that Cogswell Park, near Quinpool Road and Windsor Street, had been de-designated as a location where people can shelter due to its proximity to a new adult care facility, in accordance with the municipality’s encampment policies, which prohibit sheltering within 50 metres of an adult care facility. On Aug. 20, approximately 11 individuals staying at this location were given written notice that they had until Sunday, Sept. 21 to relocate to an indoor option or, if necessary, to another of the municipality’s designated locations as a short-term solution. The Aug. 20 statement is available here, as well as a copy of the notice.
Since that time, the municipality has taken a number of steps to provide support to those who had been sleeping rough in Cogswell Park. Municipal compliance staff and housing and homelessness coordinators, along with provincial outreach staff and navigators, have been on-site multiple times offering supports and resources. This includes transportation of people and their belongings to provincially-funded indoor shelters and housing options, or to other municipal designated locations that are available, as well as temporary storage of belongings.
As of 9 a.m., there were 10 people sheltering at this site. As part of the municipality’s civilian-led approach, this morning compliance staff communicated with individuals at Cogswell Park, reminding them to pack their belongings for transportation or storage and to vacate the site as they cannot remain in this de-designated location.
Municipal housing and homelessness staff were also at the site and assisted the individuals with transportation for them and their belongings to alternative locations.
As of 11:30 a.m., all but one person had vacated the site. Municipal staff are continuing to work with the province and their service providers to provide this person with resources and supports for them to accept an indoor option.
This area has been partially fenced to enable staff and contractors to begin cleanup of the site. Due to the heavy use of the area as a designated location, it will need to be remediated. Now that it is vacant, it will be assessed and a plan will be developed for remediation.
Supporting people sleeping rough in designated locations
As of Sept. 19, municipal housing and homelessness staff determined that there were 78 tents and four trailers in the municipality’s three remaining designated locations. From the outset, the municipality has been clear that the creation of designated locations would be temporary. They were established in July 2022 to address an immediate need to ensure people had a location to go to if they had no other option but to sleep rough.
The municipality is constantly assessing the need for designated locations. As more indoor shelter spaces and supportive housing options become available, more municipal designated locations will be closed, de-designated and returned to their intended purposes as spaces for everyone.
The municipality remains committed to ensuring those sleeping rough are provided with better alternatives, working toward having safer, long-term housing options for everyone who needs them.
Indoor shelter and housing options
The Province of Nova Scotia has provided funding and other supports to a number of indoor shelters and housing options. More information on these options is available on the provincial webpage.
For more information about ongoing efforts by the municipality to help address homelessness in our region, visit: halifax.ca/addressinghomelessness.