July 25, 2024 Meeting Minutes – Summary

Summary of the July 25, 2024 meeting on Bettering Homelessness and Point Pleasant Park Concerns

written on July 27, 2024 by William Breckenridge

I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who attended the Friends of Schmidtville meeting, which was chaired by Larry Haiven and myself. I hope that all attendees left the meeting feeling more informed and empowered. The issue of homelessness in Halifax has been a long-standing problem, stemming from decades of government cutbacks and resource mismanagement. It is crucial for both the provincial and municipal governments to stop playing the “blame game” and focus on building the necessary affordable and diverse housing options, even if it means acquiring buildings now. There is a pressing need for more transitional, temporary, and permanent housing solutions.

During the meeting, Prof. Judy Haiven delivered an insightful presentation on a successful model for addressing homelessness in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Through comprehensive community planning, Medicine Hat has significantly reduced its homelessness rates. To learn more about this model, please visit: https://community.solutions/case-studies/medicine-hat-becomes-first-city-in-canada-to-end-chronic-homelessness/

Judy’s Presentation: Click here

Judy also has some great suggestion on how to obtain more places for people to live in HRM:

“I think we need promote concrete solutions to housing:

1) turn every school or church or public building that is underutilized into housing

2) find several examples — for instance the downtown library, 176 Portland St., other buildings …

3) put together a housing commission like in my slide show on Medicine Hat –that includes ONLY those who agree to put something into the mix, not just those who make money from high end apartments and developments.

4) As far as I know the Pallet homes have no washrooms. (And no private kitchens). Just outdoor two toilet stall buildings here This is a disaster for women at night, and children (if there are any) as they have to walk on dark paths or even lit paths to use toilets at night.

5) winter will be here in 4 months — not good tenting weather. There needs to be a plan to house the 1000 plus homeless by then. Hotel rooms must be arranged or commandeered. I know it’s money but it’s the only safe place for them.

About money: I think if you add up the amount HRM has spent on

-modular housing, (at alderney and the centen. pool)

-the tiny houses,

-the pallet homes, and

-the shelters,

-as well as the $778,000 that is routinely now spent on providing space or cleaning up each encampment (see Sharon Ross’ article in today’s Herald, editorial page) you will see that figure of what HRM has spent is north of $50 million. We’ve just doled out nearly $80 mill (from the feds) to developers to build high rises, with smallish apartments. So what we see is that HRM is spending a lot on the homeless but there is no permanence, privacy or decent accommodation. Here are two articles I wrote a couple of years ago about 176 Portland St: here and here.”

Point Pleasant Park:

All attendees unanimously agreed that designating Point Pleasant Park as a future encampment site is irresponsible and poses a serious fire hazard.

I have initiated a petition to protect Point Pleasant Park, and I will continue to gather signatures until July 30^th to submit the petition for the Regional Council meeting on August 6^th.

Moving forward the following actions will be taken:

-Continuation of collecting signatures for the Point Pleasant Park petition. Please reach out if you wish to sign.

-Contacting the Fire Marshal to obtain a statement regarding the park’s fire risk.

Today I contacted the Provincial Fire Marshal’s office and would not comment on the current risk of fire for Point Pleasant Park or what the risk would be if a large encampment was located in the park.

-Reaching out to Parks Canada to address the risk of fire damage to the National Historic site of Martello Tower. I am now awaiting a reply.

– Engaging with Councillor Pam Lovelace to table the Point Pleasant Park petition and propose a motion to safeguard the park.

-The Friends of Schmidtville is drafting an action statement on homelessness and welcomes input on potential solutions.

-Dr. Iain Taylor announced the reconstitution of The Friends of Point Pleasant Park with further details to follow.

-The Spring Garden Road Area Residents Coalition will be informed about the meeting as they are actively advocating for residents and addressing the homelessness crisis.

July 25, 2024 Meeting Minutes – Summary

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