The municipality of Halifax has announced that individuals residing in the encampment at Cogswell Park are required to vacate the area by September 21. This decision follows the opening of a new adult care facility located at the intersection of Robie Street and Quinpool Road, prompting city officials to de-designate the encampment due to its proximity to this facility. According to city policies, sheltering is not permitted within a 50-meter radius of adult care facilities.
In response to the de-designation, Halifax staff are providing various resources and support options for those affected, including the relocation of individuals and their belongings to indoor shelters and other housing alternatives. As of August 15, the municipality reported having 75 tents and four trailers within the remaining designated encampments throughout the Halifax area.
Cogswell Park was previously designated as one of nine tenting locations by the municipality last year, as Halifax continues to navigate the challenges posed by a growing number of unhoused individuals. The other designated sites include Bayers Road, Windsor Street Park, BiHi Park, Chain Lake Park, Glebe Street Park, Halifax Common berm, Point Pleasant Park on the peninsula, as well as Bissett Road Park and the Geary Street green space across the harbour in Dartmouth.
This recent move to de-designate encampment sites is not a new development for Halifax officials. In December 2024, Mayor Andy Fillmore attempted to pass a motion aimed at rescinding the list of nine designated encampment locations; however, this effort was narrowly defeated by a vote of 8-7. Additionally, Premier Tim Houston has voiced his dissatisfaction regarding certain designated tenting locations, further highlighting the ongoing debates surrounding homelessness and encampment policies in Halifax.
The most recent Point-in-Time Count, conducted in November 2024, revealed that at least 1,132 individuals were experiencing homelessness within the municipality, emphasizing the urgent need for solutions to address this pressing social issue.
