Halifax homelessness has spiked by 93 per cent in 2 years: report

A new report says the number of people experiencing homelessness in Halifax is continuing to grow.

The number of people experiencing homelessness in the Halifax Regional Municipality has spiked by 93 per cent in two years, according to a new report tabled to the regional council.

Max Chauvin, director of housing and homelessness for the municipality, and Rachel Boehm, executive director of community safety, presented a point-in-time count to council at a meeting on Tuesday. The count is a snapshot of homelessness in the municipality from last November.

The count found there are 1,132 people experiencing homelessness in Halifax, compared to 220 in 2018, which represents a 414 per cent increase in six years.

The number of people experiencing chronic homelessness has also tripled in two years.

“I get a little speechless when I look at the numbers,” said Coun. Patty Cuttell. “Drastic rise in people experiencing homelessness.”

The report notes more than 200 people are sleeping rough, which represents a reduction of more than 50 per cent compared to previous statistics.

In contrast, Michael Kabalen, executive director of the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia, said their separate reporting on the number of people sleeping rough was unchanged from 2022 to 2024.

“I think we’ve seen some encampments become de-designated, so people are looking for other choices and other options,” Kabalen said. “I think in the summer people tend to find solutions that aren’t a shelter, that aren’t as close to in the city because it’s easier to camp in the woods in the nicer weather, so you will often see a decline in the summer months in unsheltered homelessness.

“I think that it’s too soon to to assume that the numbers of unsheltered homelessness are down and will stay down. I think what we’re going to be looking for is this fall, does that number tick up?”

Kabalen notes supportive housing is a long-term and cheaper option than temporary solutions like Pallet shelters.

“The most cost-effective way to end homelessness is housing, and it’s also the best for the person experiencing homelessness,” he said. “It’s a win-win.”

Beacon House, which operates Pallet shelters can help people get to the next stage of housing, but it’s a difficult road.

“The difficulty is finding a place where they could be that they could afford,” said Jim Gunn, board chair of Beacon House Interfaith Society.

The municipality’s report also found that 34 per cent of people experiencing homelessness were evicted from their homes. Twenty-three per cent of people who experienced homelessness for the first time are between the ages of 13 and 19.

The causes of homelessness were cited as:

• lack of income
• family or relationship breakdown
• unsafe or unfit housing conditions
• conflict with landlord
• substance abuse
• renoviction

A breakdown of the report found the majority of the people experiencing homelessness (65 per cent) are men and 23 per cent are involved in the child welfare system. Six per cent have children or dependents and eight per cent are couples.

Nearly fifty per cent of people experiencing homelessness in Halifax are between the ages of 30 and 49.

Mental health, substance abuse, illnesses and physical mobility are the top health concerns for people experiencing homelessness.

The report found 89 per cent of people experiencing homelessness in Halifax are from Halifax. Forty-three per cent of them are lifelong Haligonians.

“There’s a dangerous myth that people are flocking to our municipality,” said Coun. Sam Austin. “The stats don’t bear that. They are very much from HRM. These are our fellow citizens.”

Chauvin said a study on chronic homelessness will be completed this month and preliminary results are expected in September.

-With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Callum Smith

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