Halifax diocese makes good on shelter plan

Group overcomes threat of fines from city

They could have abandoned their homelessness plan after the city threatened the group with fines.

Instead, the Archdiocese of Halifax-yarmouth persisted and got its way. The group is planning to pay for and host between 15 to 20 emergency shelters on parish properties in the Halifax Regional Municipality by Christmas Eve. The goal is to build four a week, said John Stevens, one of the diocese members in charge of co-ordinating the project.

Getting the project back on track wasn’t easy. Back in October, the diocese was ready to go on its original shelter plan. Local media had reported that the diocese had partnered with Halifax Mutual Aid and that the small, waterproof, insulated emergency shelters would be set up on parish properties.

But the city got word of the project and warned the diocese about following through with its plan, said Stevens.

“The city came to us with concerns that those structures could be subject to fines,” said Stevens. “But as soon as they said we don’t think these structures are going to work, our conversation switched to what will work. What is it going to take to get a deal done?”

The Chronicle Herald spoke with Mayor Mike Savage on Nov. 12 and he dismissed the accusation from a Halifax Mutual Aid member that the city threatened to fine the diocese. Savage also said he had no knowledge of the diocese’s proposal.

In the end, the city required that the structures had to follow the province’s building code. The diocese originally budgeted $1,500 per shelter. The price tag is now $11,500.

They followed the city’s demand. The shelters will be 2.44 metres by 2.44 metres, the minimum bedroom size under the code. They’ll also have electricity and be made of fireproofing material. The structures require building permits. The city has agreed to waive the fees.

The diocese happened to have an engineer who worked with city staff on a suitable design. A local company, Well Engineered Inc., has agreed to build the structures at a discounted rate.

The diocese is fundraising to pay for the project that will cost about $230,000. So far, support has been strong and Stevens is optimistic that the diocese can hit its target.

“The main goal is to help a person get out of the cold by winter,” said Stevens. “We’re committed to that, that’s why we’re working on such a tight time frame. That’s why we’re trying to raise all that money and do everything as fast as we can, so we can get people off the streets, out of tents and into shelters.”

After the diocese was threatened by the city, Stevens said he approached downtown councillor Waye Mason for help. He said the councillor helped streamline the process and that Mason said he would see if the city would help fund the cost of one of the shelters. The Herald inquired with city about its plans and a spokesperson said it would not be providing any funding for the project.

Earlier this year, Archbishop Brian Dunn identified homelessness as one of the archdiocesan pastoral priorities. That priority has driven the diocese to push in the face of obstacles presented by the city. Stevens said he hopes that the project can set an example to government and other community groups that there are potential solutions to the city’s growing homelessness problem.

“This shelter project is moving ahead and it’s taken a government, the church and a private enterprise to make that happen,” said Stevens. “None of us have been able to do this on our own so it shows some pathways of how partnerships can help address homelessness.”

The project will end on May 31. The shelters will be removed from parish sites and stored until next winter. The diocese hopes that housing support workers will be able to help occupants find more permanent accommodations over the six months of the project.

Meanwhile, the city has a plan to house up to 60 homeless people in modular housing. The housing will be located in Dartmouth and Halifax. The city has yet to find a site for the Halifax units but hopes to house up to 44 residents there. The city has selected nine modular units but has yet to pay for them. A spokesperson with the city says “the purchase order is in progress.”

The city says it’s making progress on the Dartmouth site and expects the units to be completed by Dec. 20. The city couldn’t say when people could start moving into housing. The Nova Scotia government is responsible for determining placement of individuals and providing wrap-around services, said the city.

There are 431 homeless people in Halifax Regional Municipality, according to the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia. Campbell Mcclintock, spokesperson for Halifax Mutual Aid, said he’s pleased that the diocese persisted in seeing its shelter project through. He said it’s an example of the willingness of community groups to help address what he calls an emergency situation.

But he said instead of the city making it easier for community groups like Mutual Aid and the diocese who want to help, it continues to put up barriers.

“It’s really clear that the city is failing to appropriately treat this as an emergency and get resources here in time for the people who need them now,” said Mcclintock.

To donate to the diocese shelter project visit: https:// halifaxyarmouthad-app.azurewebsites.net/donation/tinyshelters-project/