(Update) Municipal statement regarding the Grand Parade de-designated location

**** HRM Media Release

UPDATE – Municipal statement regarding the Grand Parade de-designated location

Over the past several weeks, the municipality has been taking a number of steps to provide supports to those experiencing homelessness in our region, and particularly to those sleeping rough in de-designated locations.

Since February 7, of the approximately 55 people in these locations, one person remains.

Grand Parade

This morning, there were four people sleeping rough in Grand Parade. As was previously communicated, efforts related to relocating individuals from the de-designated locations are civilian led.

Municipal compliance staff communicated with those people remaining in Grand Parade today. They were advised that they can no longer remain in this de-designated location and to pack their belongings for transportation or storage and to vacate the de-designated location. The Province of Nova Scotia has assured the municipality that there are indoor options available for these individuals.

As of 1:00 p.m., one person remains in Grand Parade. 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, if they choose to do so.

Ongoing supports & designated locations

The Province of Nova Scotia has assured the municipality that there are indoor options available for these individuals. The municipality has worked with the province to ensure that there are spaces reserved for individuals for people from de-designated locations at the Multi-Purpose Centre of the Halifax Forum.

For those who do not or cannot accept an indoor option, Street Navigators and municipal housing and homelessness staff are advising individuals that there are four designated locations, and to consider moving to the designated location at the Barrington Street green space as it has power. Municipal housing and homelessness staff are focusing on offering supports and resources to these individuals in the remaining designated locations.

Commitment to longer-term solutions

The municipality remains committed to ensuring those sleeping rough are provided better alternatives, working toward having safer, long-term housing options for everyone who needs them.

In the coming days, the municipality will issue a Request for Expression of Interest (RFEI) through a broker to identify potential options for land and facilities as part of our ongoing commitment to assist the Province of Nova Scotia in securing long-term housing solutions. As communicated on February 23, the municipality is committed to transparency about the process and the RFEI document will be made available on halifax.ca once finalized.

The municipality will also continue working with other orders of government, as well as through partnerships with community housing not-for-profits, on initiatives to support the creation of affordable and deeply affordable housing, such as the Affordable Housing Grant Program, the Rapid Housing Initiative and the Housing Accelerator Fund.

Status of de-designated locations: Remediation & restoration efforts

Remediation efforts underway at several de-designated locations:

Grand Parade is closed to the public for remediation except for the thoroughfare between Barrington and Argyle streets, and access to St. Paul’s church and City Hall.
Victoria Park is closed to the public while remediation work takes place to return this site to its former state. Pathways will remain open with temporary closures for the safe operation of heavy machinery as needed. Remediation of Victoria Park is expected to take several months due to the heavy use of the site as an encampment for a relatively long period of time. This work will begin with testing to identify contaminants in the soil and inform next steps.
Geary Street green space is closed to the public while remediation work takes place.
Correctional Centre Park remains closed to the public. Construction fencing is being installed in this area so that work can begin on the province’s tiny home community project.
Saunders Park is now open to the public. Minor remediation and restoration work will take place in the coming weeks.
Beaufort Avenue Park and Martins Park remain open to the public. They did not require remediation, as they were not used for outdoor sheltering.

Updates will continue to be provided as progress is made.

This morning, the municipality is continuing to move this process forward. As of Friday, March 8, there were four people sleeping rough in Grand Parade. Municipal compliance staff are currently communicating with those remaining people to advise that they can no longer remain in this de-designated location.

People in this location are being advised to immediately pack their belongings for transportation or storage and vacate the de-designated location.

Municipal housing and homelessness staff have been in contact with every person sheltering in the de-designated location at Grand Parade, offering them resources and supports, including transportation of people and belongings. Staff have also offered those continuing to sleep rough the option to have personal belongings securely stored for up to 30 days by the municipality.

The steps being taken are a continuation of the municipality’s measured approach, with the following efforts leading up to today, including:

On February 7, municipal staff provided a Notice to Vacate to all people sleeping in de-designated locations, with a deadline to leave the de-designated locations by February 26. Read the February 7 municipal statement here.
On February 23, the municipality provided a status update on efforts to support those sheltering in de-designated locations, with a reminder of the deadline to vacate by February 26. The municipality reiterated its commitment to longer-term solutions to the housing and homelessness crisis. Read the February 23 municipal statement here.
On February 28, municipal housing and homelessness staff visited each de-designated location to advise those sleeping rough in these locations to take immediate steps to prepare personal belongings, including tents/shelters, for storage or transportation. Efforts to communicate this with every person in these locations have continued since then. Read the February 28 municipal statement here.
On March 4, the municipality reiterated the efforts being made by housing and homelessness staff to offer supports and resources to people sleeping rough in these de-designated locations. Read the March 4 municipal statement here.