Latest news with #CassandraTaylor
CTV News
07-07-2025
- CTV News
‘We need to do more': Halifax considers removing one of last designated encampment sites
Cassandra Taylor and her dog, Fetty Wap, named after the rapper, live at the Cogswell Park encampment in Halifax. (Source: Callum Smith/CTV News Atlantic) After accommodations with a friend fell through, Cassandra Taylor and her dog were forced to the streets, living at Cogswell Park in Halifax for about a month now. 'It's different, it's my first time living like this,' she tells CTV News Atlantic. 'But, for the most part, you gotta make the best of it.' Unable to make ends meet as a single person, she's worried about the future, especially because Halifax will be considering removing the site off its limited list of approved encampment locations. 'You realize how much you need a home when you don't have one,' Taylor says. She's stressed about the thought of having to find somewhere else to live. She hopes if she's told to leave, she'll also be told housing is lined up for her, but she realizes 'that's very unlikely.' The motion A motion by area councillor Virginia Hinch will be brought to council on Tuesday, asking for a staff report detailing when the site could be 'de-designated' – and that it be closed and remediated as soon as possible. 'When Council approved Cogswell Park as a designated site in July 2024, a total of eight tents were permitted to occupy this space,' the motion reads. 'The number of tents at this encampment site has since doubled. In addition to exceeding occupancy limits, there are also safety concerns on the part of residents including fire safety concerns.' Hinch says she's heard complaints from people living near the park. 'They're valid concerns, unfortunately, with safety, with the way that the park is looking; it's not at its best nowadays,' she says. According to Hinch, neighbours have also reported fires and rats at the park. The motion notes the Parkland Campus on Quinpool Road is expected to open this fall, which means Cogswell Park will fall within 50 metres of an adult care facility and will no longer meet the criteria for a designated encampment site. Parkland Campus Parkland Campus on Quinpool Road is slated to open fall 2025. (Source: Callum Smith/CTV News Atlantic) Patrick Maubert, a program director and social worker at Brunswick Street Mission, is disappointed to hear the location could be removed. 'These are people's homes. At the end of the day, a tent is someone's home,' Maubert says. 'To be retraumatizing people by kicking them out of their homes and potentially losing their belongings… it's disappointing to hear. 'It is a bit of a head scratcher as to why now, and I think when we see growing numbers and encampments, I think we have to look at that as a systemic issue.' Maubert says while there are some options available to people, such as Pallet shelters, there still aren't enough secure spaces for people living rough. 'We need to do more' Hinch says collaboration between all three levels of government is needed because the homeless population 'looks like it's going to continue to grow and grow and grow.' 'That should be a sign that we need to do more,' she says. Hinch, who previously worked in the housing sector, acknowledges finding an affordable place to live is difficult, but says the municipality needs to take some responsibility, too. 'It falls heavily on us… We could do better for sure, the province can do a lot better as well,' she says. 'Either it's the new norm or…we do something about it.' For Taylor, her situation is made even more challenging, living with mental health and addictions issues. 'I just hope that anyone that has a home, just be grateful, because you never know when your life can get turned upside down and they could be end up living like how we are,' she says. Along with Cogswell Park, the remaining designated encampment sites are Green Road Park in Dartmouth, the Barrington Street green space and Lower Flinn Park. -With files from CTV News Atlantic's Sean Mott Cassandra Taylor Cassandra Taylor and her dog, Fetty Wap, named after the rapper, live at the Cogswell Park encampment in Halifax. (Source: Callum Smith/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
Fear from flyers in the Gentilly area
TREME, La. (WGNO) — Recently, flyers have been placed on cars warning people of targeted attacks on women in the two block radius of the Treme One Stop on North Villere Street and Esplanade Avenue. On the sheet, it states that two men have showed up in the past several weeks harassing women, following them and even grabbing them. Some people who walk this street regularly say it's shocking to read this message. Couple dead, son sought as person of interest in Amite-area homicide investigation 'Oh, this is surprising [to] me because this is the first time I've seen it. I don't walk at night, but other people walk coming from work and stuff. This is real scary,' resident Cassandra Taylor said. Some say this neighborhood is usually pretty quiet, and hearing of attacks like this happening around here is unusual. 'I think there are things that happen all over the city. I think it is surprising cause this is a very tight-knit neighborhood too, and we all look out for each other. Yeah, it's a little surprising,' resident Vivian Hava said. New superintendent selected for New Orleans Public Schools While the papers have been going around for days, no criminal complaints matching the descriptions have been reported to the New Orleans Police Department. The department says it is are aware of the flyers, and the team along with Councilman Eugene Green are asking residents to remain vigilant. 'The only way that we can get to the bottom of these incidents sometimes is with human witnessing of the incident and sharing the information with us. Please do not hesitate to call the New Orleans Police Department,' Green from flyers in the Gentilly area Big hits power John Curtis to a 5-4 win over Jesuit in game two of their series Woman, 80, shot while caught in crossfire between Tijuana police, cartel members Security increased around Tijuana public schools after murder of 13-year-old student Tesla's first-quarter sales down 13% worldwide Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
