Last month, the city cited health and safety concerns, including rat infestation, as it told people living in Meagher Park they had to leave by July 17 so work could begin to clean up the park. Homeless people have been living in the park for about a year. “People have a right to housing. It doesn’t mean they have the right to choose exactly where they want to be housed, as long as we give them reasonable, safe, accessible, sustainable options,” Savage said in an interview. “And that’s what we’re working on,” he said, noting the creation of 64 modular homes in Halifax and Dartmouth and affordable housing projects being planned with the provincial and federal governments. The Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia reported that as of Tuesday, there were 643 homeless people in Halifax, a number that has increased by more than 20 since mid-June. The city has 200 shelter beds. During a special meeting Tuesday, councilors approved a plan that allows the city to call in the Halifax Regional Police to remove those still living in Meagher Park after the eviction deadline has passed. Max Chauvin, the city’s director of special projects for the homeless, said during the meeting that neighbors of the park are upset by the presence of people camping in tents, and there have been reports of violence and shouting at the park as well as feces and needles. “We have people who have reported to us that they have developed PTSD from these experiences,” Chauvin told the council. In June, the city approved four parks where up to 32 homeless people can set up tents and get services like running water and bathrooms, but Meagher Park, near downtown, was not on the list. Savage said the city isn’t considering making Meagher Park a designated staging area because it’s near a school and playground, but the city is willing to create more outdoor shelter locations if it identifies more “suitable locations.” Calista Hills, a volunteer who works with people living in Meagher Park, said in an interview Tuesday that some of the nine people who live there have considered moving to one of the four approved tents, but fear losing the sense of community and support provided in the park. Hills is concerned that the city’s decision to involve police in an eviction at the park could lead to violence, as happened last August when police used pepper spray and arrested 24 people protesting the removal of temporary wooden shelters outside the former public library. Savage said the city and police “don’t want this to escalate into a difficult situation.” Halifax housing advocacy groups PADS Community Network said in a statement Tuesday that Nova Scotia’s response to the growing housing and homelessness crisis is inadequate and that “the police evicting people into tents and shelters is wrong, especially when there are no better choices”. The mayor said city staff is still working to connect with people in the park and see if they are willing to voluntarily move. If the city decides it’s time to bring in the police, the executive director of parks and recreation will call the Halifax Regional Police. Savage did not give a timeline for when the city might make that call. This story was produced with financial assistance from Meta and the Canadian Press News Fellowship. The Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
