HRM has not lost interest in wanting to Criminalize the Homeless.
By: Kendall Worth!
On Tuesday July 5th 2022, members of the public, who are supporters of the homeless (specially People’s Park) learned, that the residents of People’s Park have been served notice - informing them they have to leave People’s Park immediately, (July 5th) and find somewhere else to live by the deadline of July 17th. The City is also imposing fines from $100 to $10,000 which homeless people, obviously, cannot afford to pay. The City is also advising of jail time if they cannot afford to pay their fines.
The actual notice from City of Halifax, Issued yesterday! https://t.co/zvEDXuiNia
I have questions:
#1 – How is all of this fair after Mayor Mike Savage himself said “No one will Criminalized for being Homeless?”
#2 –Where are these people expected to go after they exit People's park? And even if there is space in one of the parks in Halifax set aside for tenting – how are they supposed to move? Are City Workers going to help the residents move their belongings?
#3 – Considering that Homeless People cannot afford to pay amounts ranging from $100.00 to $10,000 where is money for the homeless person to be able to pay that fine, supposed to come from?
On March 05, 2022 I wrote an Open letter to Halifax City Council talking about the unhoused and illustrating why criminalizing the homeless population is wrong. Then in this article I expressed a strong message of importance: Leave the homeless alone!
It is a shock to the community of people I advocate for, that, after the Aug 18th riot/police aggression, almost a year ago, that the City would make the decision to threaten and evict people from Meagher Park. My community of contacts feels that, even though the City has designated 4 other Parks for Camping, the concern is “Do those parks have enough space to accommodate the total number of people who are homeless/unsheltered in this city?” The overall homeless population is major and growing (and will continue to grow as rents continue to rise following the vacating of any unit) here in Halifax. Even though designating those 4 other parks will help the overall situation, closing Meagher Park for camping is a big mistake, on the city’s part.
People in the community have been hearing that beginning immediately, people are not allowed to deliver meals or supplies to, or even visit, the residents of Meagher Park, without threat of fines and jail. The city is expecting them to live day to day without meals, or having access to necessities during this transition. This is not fair!
It seems to me, that HRM still does not understand the crisis in terms of the lack of affordable housing. There is literally none. It is going to take years for new affordable housing to develop. We do not have access to any improved living allowance – just the same $950.00 a month standard house hold rate from Income Assistance. CPP Disability Allowance is not a heck of a lot more.!! On available allowances, they cannot afford to pay hotel cost, or rent on their own.
I believe the City should just leave the residents of Meagher Park alone, and respect that the Homeless problem – of people camping in parks and available places - is going to continue until we have more affordable housing stock.
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