‘We have seen active drug deals’: Dartmouth residents say homeless shelter poses problems

Dartmouth, N.S. residents are concerned about a shelter in their neighbourhood.

After years of fundraising for Shirley’s Splash Pad in Dartmouth, N.S., those who helped make it a reality say they aren’t able to enjoy it like they had hoped.

Massimilliano Marcelli, a city worker, says he drives past the park every day. If he or his team notices things are a problem or need fixing, like a tennis net, they pop by to fix it. But Marcelli has seen traffic in this area slow down.

“It’s not as busy as it used to be, we don’t see as many kids as we used to see in the playground here. Just not as many people here and we don’t know what happened,” says Marcelli.

Many of the families who use the splash pad say a shelter next to the Macdonald Bridge is to blame, as they’re finding needles and drug paraphernalia around the park and their neighbourhood.

“A lot of people are coming from the bridge shelter, which is very close to the splash pad,” says Ashley LeCroy, who lives in the area. “That’s where we assume it’s coming from. We have seen active drug deals happening in the splash pad.”

The hotel-turned-shelter called ‘the bridge’ is a provincially-owned homeless facility that has 178 beds.

“The Bridge is supported with $24 million annually from the Department of Opportunities and Social Development (this supports rooms, building rental, services and programming, and staff),” says Erica Parrill in a statement from the province to CTV News.

Parrill explains the project was designed not only as a shelter, but as a supportive health and social intervention.

“It reduces strain on emergency services, improves public safety, and helps individuals transition into stable housing,” the province says in a statement to CTV News.

Former mayor of Dartmouth, Gloria McCluskey, says she feels for those who are homeless, but says it’s also not fair to the residents who pay taxes and expect to be able to take their children to playgrounds but don’t feel safe to do so.

“That’s as good a place that we can put them. Where are we going to put the poor souls? And until we get enough housing and places for them to live, we are going to be faced with them in these situations,” says McCluskey.

She helped get a skate park in the area several years ago and wants families to be able to use those spaces safely.

“Well, we need more patrolling in the parks also, and it shouldn’t be a problem for the police alone,” says McCluskey.

When it comes to security, the city says in a statement to CTV News that someone is there every morning.

“We have Mainline Needle Exchange doing daily sweeps for needles and other hazards at the splash pad, playground and surrounding area. We also have security on site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” says Sarah Brannen on behalf of the city in a statement to CTV News.

But locals feel that’s not enough.

“I know the city has security there from 10 until two because community groups and schools were showing up and being turned away because Mainline does the sweeps of all the drug drug paraphernalia and the community groups and the camps were going away,” says Jesse Sharrett, who lives near the splash pad.

Sharrett feels security should be extended for the after-school crowds as well, he says at least until 7 p.m.

Some businesses in the area say the shelter has been causing them trouble since it opened.

“Businesses are feeling the pressures of drug use and increased shelters in that area, through property crime and those sorts of complaints in that area as well,” says Tim Rissesco, CEO of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission.

Rissesco explains that businesses around Wyse Road and the shelter are not considered to be part of the downtown Dartmouth businesses, although they have reached out to him with concerns.

Rissesco says shops already face so much uncertainty, and street issues are only adding more pressure.

“Businesses are conflicted, generally small businesses and neighbours in the areas are empathetic to the people in those situations, but they are also concerned for their own futures as well,” says Rissesco.

“Its very difficult for businesses and while they are trying to be kind they have a business to run and there is stealing going on and that goes with addiction and mental health issues,” adds McCluskey.

The province says 107 people left the shelter for housing between May 1, 2023 and May 1, 2025, including private market housing, supportive housing, or moving in with family or friends.

“The Bridge works with law enforcement, housing providers, and municipal safety teams to monitor and respond to issues in the surrounding area. In addition, security guards, staff, and peer support workers are on site around the clock to help manage and de-escalate situations as they arise,” says Parrill in her statement to CTV News Atlantic.

The province says it will continue to work with service providers to support the people who rely on the shelter, but also the surrounding community.

Halifax police say residents who see any type of drug paraphernalia should call 311.

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