Halifax homelessness count shows slight decrease, but rough sleeping shifts to solitary locations
An annual point-in-time count in Halifax identified 1,078 people experiencing homelessness, a drop of 72 from last year. While targeted provincial investments have reduced reliance on hotels and transition houses, 164 people remain unsheltered, increasingly sleeping alone outdoors or in vehicles.
The annual point-in-time count for homelessness in Halifax, organized by the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia (AHANS) and the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, took place on Oct. 14 into the early morning hours of Oct. 15. The count identified 1,078 people dealing with homelessness, a decrease of 72 from last year's total of 1,150.
Michael Kabalen, executive director of AHANS, stated that the system has reached stability around emergency housing support following post-pandemic increases. Despite the overall dip, 164 people were found sleeping rough in unsheltered areas, with notable changes in where they are staying.
The number of people staying in groups across designated or undesignated encampments dropped to 44, down from 121 last year. There are now only two municipally-designated encampments. Conversely, the number of people living alone in outdoor spots like streets and parks rose to 69, up from 42 last year. The number of people sleeping in vehicles such as cars or RVs increased to 51, up from 34 last year. Outreach teams reported that people sleeping rough often choose solitary locations to avoid attention and being asked to move along. The report suggests the count of people in vehicles is likely a significant underrepresentation because it is difficult to capture all parking lots in one night. Of those found in vehicles, 17 were in rural areas where no shelter option exists.
Targeted provincial investments have reduced reliance on temporary accommodations. The number of people staying in hotels paid for by the province decreased to 29, down from 90 last year, representing a 68% drop. The number of women and children staying in domestic violence transition houses dropped to 18, down from 64 last year, a 72% decrease. Kabalen attributes these reductions to recent investments, such as affordable housing options like the YWCA’s Mount Hope Village.
The number of people staying in shelters remained nearly unchanged at 725, compared to 726 last year. All shelter sites had a total capacity of 817 beds on the night of the count. Reasons for not using communal shelters include having pets, needing privacy, demographic mismatches, living in rural areas without shelters, or having complex mental health needs. Rachel Boehm, Halifax’s executive director of community safety, reported 39 unsuccessful shelter connections from July through September. Unsuccessful shelter connections occur when someone is ready to accept a spot but a suitable one is not available.
Planning is underway regarding the 94-bed Halifax Forum shelter, whose provincial contract ends March 31, 2027. The municipality plans to tear down the aging Halifax Forum next year to build a new facility. Nicole MacDonald, spokesperson for the provincial department of Opportunities and Social Development, said conversations about next steps for the Forum shelter are underway.
This year’s provincial budget allocated $165 million for supportive housing and homelessness, an increase of $35 million, or 27 per cent.