City ends use of Lower Flinn Park as encampment site

HRM release:

Today, the Halifax Regional Municipality is closing and de-designating the encampment site at Lower Flinn Park. Notices have been issued to those sheltering at this site. Individuals will have until Sunday, Dec. 7 to relocate to an indoor option or, if necessary, to another of the municipality’s designated locations as a short-term solution.

During this period, those currently sleeping rough at this location will also be offered resources and supports, including transportation of people and their belongings to provincially funded indoor shelter and housing options, or to other municipal designated locations. Temporary storage of belongings will also be offered by the municipality.

As capacity for indoor shelters and supportive housing options continues to increase, the municipality is directing its focus away from the provision of designated locations and towards helping those experiencing homelessness access better indoor sheltering options. 

Indoor shelter spaces are a better option than sleeping rough. They provide access to a warm space with heat, electricity, running water, showers, laundry services, regular meals and a place to store belongings.

Supporting people sleeping rough in designated locations

As of Oct. 30, municipal housing and homelessness staff determined that there were 59 tents and four trailers in the municipality’s remaining designated locations. From the outset, the municipality has been clear that the creation of designated locations would be temporary. They were established in July 2022 to address an immediate need to ensure people had a location to go to if they had no other option but to sleep rough.

The municipality is constantly assessing the need for designated locations. As more indoor shelter spaces and supportive housing options become available, more municipal designated locations will be closed, de-designated and returned to their intended purposes as spaces for everyone.

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

Indoor shelter and housing options

The Province of Nova Scotia has provided funding and other supports to a number of indoor shelters and housing options. More information on these options is available on the provincial webpage.

For more information about ongoing efforts by the municipality to help address homelessness in our region, visit: halifax.ca/addressinghomelessness.