What happened when a city started accepting - not evicting - homeless camps

In Halifax, Canada, a city is taking a different approach to help people experiencing homelessness. Instead of evicting them, the city is allowing tent encampments in designated areas. This decision comes as many cities across North America struggle with rising homelessness. Andrew Goodsell, a resident of one of these encampments, has been living in a small orange tent for nearly a year. He describes life in the encampment as 'depressing' and wishes he could wake up in a place with basic amenities like a shower and a kitchen. Unfortunately, the skyrocketing rent in Halifax has made it impossible for him to afford housing. The city has designated nine sites where people can legally camp outside, a temporary solution while indoor shelters are full. This approach contrasts sharply with other cities that have opted for police sweeps to remove homeless encampments, which many criticize as ineffective and harsh. In California, for example, thousands of encampments have been cleared since 2021, while some cities have even banned camping in public spaces altogether. Supporters of these bans argue that encampments lead to disorder and that resources should focus on getting people off the streets. However, some residents of Halifax's encampments believe that the focus should be on creating affordable housing instead. Andrew Goodsell points out that Canada is a wealthy country with plenty of resources, yet many people are still struggling to find a place to live. Recent court rulings in Canada have affirmed the right of homeless individuals to camp outside if there are no suitable indoor shelters available. This is in stark contrast to a recent ruling by the U. S. Supreme Court, which allows cities to fine and arrest homeless individuals even when no shelter is available. The situation in Halifax has changed dramatically over the years. In 2018, there were only 18 people sleeping rough in the city, but that number has now risen to over 200. While the city has approved nine designated encampment sites, only five are currently operational, and many are already over capacity. The city provides portable toilets and outreach workers who check in on residents, but many still feel unsafe and question the government's commitment to finding them permanent housing. The lack of affordable housing is a pressing issue, with many residents struggling to pay rent. The city is waiting for the provincial government to increase affordable housing construction, as Nova Scotia has not built any new public housing units since 1995. The mayor of Halifax has acknowledged that solving the housing crisis will be a significant challenge for the city and others in the coming years. Many residents of the encampments express a desire for more support and resources to help them get back on their feet. They want to be treated with dignity and respect, and they hope that the city will take their needs into account as it works to address the housing crisis.