Four parks identified for use by people experiencing homelessness

Halifax Regional Council will debate a new staff report this week that is outlining four parks to be used by people experiencing homelessness to set up tents. 

Staff had previously suggested some parks to be used long term, and others where sleeping rough would only be allowed between 8 pm and 8 am. Council rejected that idea and asked staff to focus on parks where people could set up tents longer-term. 

The report, coming before council tomorrow, is recommending four parks for that purpose: the Barrington Street green space and Lower Flinn Park in Halifax, as well as Green Road Park and the Geary Street green space in Dartmouth.

Those parks will have space for “30+” people according to the staff report. The report specifies only tent camping will be permitted and no sheds would be allowed. 

But a point in time count done in April found there are far more people than that in need. That count identified 91 people sleeping in tents or encampments on public land, and 586 people without safe, permanent housing in the community. 

“In the future, should the need for camping space exceed the capacity of these four locations, staff will consider adding designated locations in park spaces,” the report reads. 

Regional council will discuss the report at a meeting Tuesday afternoon.