Eviction day is one week away and the number of tents in the median of University Avenue in Halifax is steadily decreasing ahead of the city-imposed deadline.
“Absolutely the numbers are decreasing every week. Our outreach staff and the outreach staff of other agencies are there several times a week meeting with people, talking about their needs, outlining opportunities that are available for them,” says Max Chauvin, Halifax’s director of housing and homelessness.
City staff are cleaning up the area as some residents move on. Steps are being taken to ensure tents aren’t removed prematurely.
“We have a process to do that. We want to be very careful not to take somebody’s tent that may still have valuables in them,” Chauvin says.
According to Chauvin, there are 105 people staying in Halifax’s six designated sites (there will be five after the University Avenue eviction). He says the challenge now is to find suitable housing for them.
“I think all but one are significantly …