Halifax tells people remaining at some encampments to pack up, plans to disconnect power this week
Posted Feb 28, 2024 02:47:48 PM.
Last Updated Feb 28, 2024 02:47:51 PM.
Two days after the eviction day set out by the city of Halifax for five encampments, the municipality is telling people who remain to prepare to leave.
In a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon, the municipality said it was continuing to make “important progress” to move people experiencing homelessness indoors. It said about 29 people were still sheltering at de-designated locations.
“Today, staff are visiting Victoria Park and Grand Parade in Halifax, and Correctional Centre Park in Lower Sackville, to advise those sleeping rough in these locations to take immediate steps to prepare personal belongings, including tents/shelters, for storage or transportation,” the statement read. “Efforts to communicate this information with individuals in these de-designated locations will continue until everyone has been informed.”
The statement did not say if the city plans to actively remove people from the sites in the coming days, saying it is continuing to communicate with individuals as part of its “measured approach”.
According to the statement, access to electricity at Grande Parade and Correctional Centre Park will be disconnected as of Fri., Mar. 1.
The municipality said short-term storage was being offered for 30 days for people to keep their belongings and waste containers were being made available for people at the locations to throw away anything they don’t want to keep.
“In the coming days, any items that have not been removed, or packed for storage, will be considered abandoned and these items will be placed in the disposal containers by municipal staff,” it said.
Transportation to other “suitable locations” is still being offered by housing and homelessness staff.
HRM said the province has assured it that there is enough space in shelters or other housing options for the people in the de-designated locations.
It added Saunders Park is now completely vacated and is closed to the public for clean up.
