THOMAS RADDALL PALLET SHELTERS, republished by Kathryn Morse
I would like to address the community’s concerns about the Province’s recent announcement to locate a Pallet shelter village on a vacant lot on Thomas Raddall Avenue. I understand people are anxious about this site because it’s located near the Canada Games Centre, Keshen Goodman Library and Halifax West High School.
First, some background. HRM has roughly 1300 people who have identified themselves as homeless. In 2018 that number was 18. Some are living in shelters, some in tent encampments, some in the woods, some in cars. The number of homeless is increasing by about 4 percent a month. In one part of downtown Dartmouth, there are close to 500 homeless individuals. Seniors are among the fastest-growing homeless population.
HRM residents have loudly opposed tent encampments at Grand Parade, Victoria Park, the Halifax Commons, Point Pleasant Park and University Avenue (near hospitals). There is public opposition to every site Regional Council identifies for encampments or the better alternative, Pallet shelters.
Over the summer the Province and the municipality identified more than 40 possible Pallet shelter locations across HRM on available municipal, provincial, federal, and private land. Each potential site was reviewed by the Province to ensure the site was practical and could provide support for its residents. The Province chose the Thomas Raddall site as the best one. I have not seen the list of the other 39 sites. The municipality agreed to allow use of the land for this purpose when other choices were eliminated. The Province manages Pallet projects and provides the funding through the Department of Community Services.
Pallet shelter villages are not tent encampments. A Pallet shelter is a one or two-person weather-proof shelter designed for quick assembly. Each shelter is 6.5 square metres (70 square feet) with a bed, desk, chair, and storage. They have air conditioning and heat. Open fires or fuel-based heaters are not permitted.
Shelter villages are staffed by trained professionals 24/7. Food and medical supports are provided to the residents of the shelter village. Shared bathrooms, showers and laundry services are on site. There is a communal meeting space for staff and residents to use.
The sites are fenced and have both on-site security and security cameras. The residents of the shelter villages are not individuals with serious mental health issues or highly complex needs. We need to remember these are human beings and they have a human right to housing.
My colleague Councillor Paul Russell tells me there have been very few problems with the Pallet shelter site in his district. In fact it’s been successful: a high percentage of the residents have been able to work and maintain employment. Other Pallet residents have been able to pursue educational opportunities leading to employment. These results are typical of other cities using Pallet shelters.
Pallet shelters are a short term solution to a rapidly growing crisis in homelessness in HRM. Pallet shelter villages will continue to be needed all across HRM unless there is some longer term planning by the Nova Scotia Ministers of Housing and Community Services. The real solution is affordable, supportive, permanent housing where rent is geared to income. It requires a commitment from all levels of government but needs to be led by the government of Nova Scotia, which has the legal responsibility and the budget for emergency shelters and social housing. Nova Scotia has not built government-subsidized housing since the 1990s.
I see some people on social media are creating fear and panic about the Pallet shelters. I hope they will reconsider.
COUNCILLOR KATHRYN MORSE
DISTRICT 10
HALIFAX – BEDFORD BASIN WEST
(FAIRVIEW, CLAYTON PARK AND ROCKINGHAM)
KATHRYN.MORSE@HALIFAX.CAI see some people on social media are creating fear and panic about the Pallet shelters. I hope they will reconsider.
