Support teams help those living in Halifax-area encampments during extreme weather

People living in Halifax encampments are dealing with hot weather.

According to the Halifax Regional Municipality, as of last week, staff are aware of around 30 individuals living at the designated encampment locations in HRM.

In a statement to CTV News, the municipality says it continues to work closely with community partners and the province to support those living outside during periods of extreme weather.

“Our Housing and Homelessness team is out connecting with people sleeping rough throughout this heat event, helping ensure they have access to water, food and portable fans,” says Jake Fulton, public affairs advisor with the Halifax Regional Municipality, in a statement.

HRM says the safety and well being of vulnerable residents remains a priority.

“The After-Hours Individualized Mobile Engagement (AIM) team will be supporting residents sleeping rough during the evening hours. AIM staff will distribute items such as ice packs, water, electrolyte packages, sandwiches and snacks, while helping connect individuals to available services and supports,” adds Fulton in a statement to CTV News.

PJ MacKay lives at the Green Road encampment in Dartmouth. She has been there for the past three years and says every summer new faces appear.

“There have been a few more tents again this year like I’ve predicted. It is a little quieter than last summer, the people are not as cruel,” says MacKay.

Despite new people, MacKay says there are fewer individuals there over all, estimating the number at around 20.

“I’m not who I was when I came out here because this field does change you big time. I was one of the ones that would hide in the corner saying please don’t touch me. Now I’m one of the ones that says you wanna touch me, come on,” says MacKay.

Mike Branwall has also lived at the Green Road encampment off and on for three years.

“I was homeless off and on for like 15 years, living in rooming houses and stuff. It’s all the same no matter where you are,” says Branwall.

Branwall says shelters don’t work for him so living outdoors is his only option. Despite safety being a concern, the heat is also a worry for both him and Mackay.

“The heat is bothersome, well it’s really bad actually,” says Branwall.

“We do have power now. We have little fans in our tents and campers,” adds Mackay.

Mackay says the Nova Scotia government supplies a case of water to each person and an extra case to those with pets. The outhouses are flushed twice a week and the garbage bin dumped once a week. Soul’s Harbour Rescue Mission stops by to provide additional support.

“We work with the AIM program and what we do is we go into the encampments, and we make sure the people living there are looked after safely and doing well emotionally,” says Michelle Porter, chief executive director of Soul’s Harbour Rescue Mission.

In Halifax, Soul’s Harbour Rescue Mission services around 200 people a day. It offers clothing and meals, but the heat only increases the work.

“We have hydration stations at all our locations. We are working on passing out water bottles. We have a partnership with Labatt for emergency water in cans,” says Porter.

Mackay says she just wants affordable housing and her goal is to get out of encampment living.

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