‘People don’t feel safe now’: Halifax mayor on homeless encampments at Meagher Park

The mayor of Halifax says he hopeful they will come to a peaceful solution over the situation involving homeless encampments at Meagher Park.

The park, which is known by some as People's Park, has seen more homeless encampments set up since last summer when people were evicted by police in downtown Halifax.

Late last month, police removed a wooden structure which was said to serve as a kitchen for those living at the park.

That was met with mixed reactions.

Speaking to CityNews Halifax, Mayor Mike Savage said he's heard from many who say they do not feel the park is safe.

“We believe it's a human right for people to have a place to live, but I also think that Meagher Park belongs to the people,” said Savage. “If it's the People's Park, all the people should feel safe there and they don't feel safe now. So we are giving options to people who are living in Meagher Park now.”

Savage said, as the modular units in Halifax open up, they will be given the opportunity to live there as well.

“So I'm hopeful that we'll be able to come to a peaceful solution at Meagher Park where people no longer camp there, and as a city, we'll go in and I'm very hopeful that we'll fix it up in a nice way for all the people that live in that community,” said Savage.

Meantime, the city recently announced occupation of modular units in Halifax will be delayed to May 6 after previously saying they'd be ready by mid-March.