Latest news with #SuzanneLey
CBC
15-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Unsanitary conditions, rooms without locks among 'failures' at shelter sites, says official
Social Sharing Unhygienic conditions, bedrooms without locks and assaults against residents were among the problems plaguing two supportive housing sites in Halifax before the province cut ties with the non-profit managing the locations, a government official alleged Monday. Suzanne Ley, executive director of employment support and income assistance with the Department of Opportunities and Social Development, said she knew conditions were subpar at the sites, but the full extent of the problems was not known until Out of the Cold was dismissed and she took a closer look at the situation. "I would say there are some pretty significant failures in things like safety and infrastructure," she said. Ley said she received reports of non-residents entering the sites at night and assaulting the occupants. The facilities lacked in some basic supplies, such a drinking cups. Ley also said staff were not helping residents access health care, and in some cases even "gatekeeping" or "being a barrier" to health care. "The level of support really doesn't reflect what is needed in a high-acuity setting like this," Ley said. In an interview last week, Out of the Cold said it was blindsided by the split and thought it had been addressing concerns previously raised by the province. The group's board and leadership declined to comment any further following Ley's new accusations. Ley's department abruptly ended its contract with Out of the Cold last week after partnering with the group for the past three years. The group ran two supportive housing sites — one in Halifax and one in Dartmouth — with capacity for more than 60 people. Ley said many of the residents were chronically homeless prior to being admitted, and many are dealing with drug and alcohol addiction and/or mental illness. The province has opened several supportive housing sites in recent years, with the type of support varying by location and by resident. Ley said the two sites Out of the Cold was running are intended to provide among the most intensive level of support available. Previous threat of termination In August of 2023, the department told Out of the Cold in a letter that it was concerned about "criminal activity," including allegations of drug and human trafficking, inadequate support for residents, inadequate training for staff and delays in accountability reporting. The province threatened termination, unless a number of conditions were met. Ley said after that, the department worked with the non-profit and hired a consultant to help the group. She said Out of the Cold was showing efforts at improvement. "We felt really optimistic in 2024," she said. But, she recalls, not every concern was addressed, and some issues that were addressed gradually came back. Ley said the Justice Department has twice investigated the operations. She did not elaborate on those probes. When the second investigation began last fall, she said her department began preparing to transition to a new service provider. The Atlantic Community Shelter Society took over for Out of the Cold last week. On the day of the transition, the Department of Opportunities and Social Development complained to Halifax Regional Police about the sites. Neither the department nor police would provide any other details. The vice-chair of the board for Out of the Cold said last week he suspected that part of the split was due to Out of the Cold's harm-reduction approach, which did not require residents to be sober, in a recovery program, or medicated if they were dealing with mental illness. He said he expected new rules for residents, such as restrictions on drug or alcohol use or requirements for residents to follow prescribed treatment programs. Ley said "residents will see and feel a difference in their day-to-day," but insisted that did not mean rolling out new, stricter rules. "We want to make sure that people are able to come as themselves, come with all of their challenges and be supported in whatever the next step looks like," she said. Ley said any changes would be in the interest of safety, such as ensuring needles are being disposed of appropriately and rooms are being kept clean.
CTV News
09-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Officials preparing for more people living on streets as weather warms up: City of Halifax
While the province of Nova Scotia claims there's progress in getting people into shelters, city officials are getting ready for more people living on the streets as the weather warms up. In the city, the by-name list still has 1,197 people on it – 667 in shelters, 195 unsheltered, 303 defined as hidden homeless which includes those who are in hospital, correctional facilities or are couch surfing, and 32 others didn't respond on the survey. 'Since February really, we've had more beds in HRM available for people than there have been sleeping rough,' said Suzanne Ley, executive director of Opportunities and Social Development. The province says there is availability in all types of supportive housing, from emergency shelters to tiny homes. The goal now is to move those still staying in tents, into those vacant accommodations. 'For the most part, they are people that cannot sustain themselves in a shelter environment whether it's because they're using drugs or they have alcoholism or they have mental health issues,' said Marie-France LeBlanc, CEO of the North End Community Centre. Some of them are staying in the city's five designated encampment sites, two of which are in Dartmouth and the other three are in Halifax. Combined, the sites are meant to hold 42 people, but there are 60 staying in them. 'Yes, they are above capacity at different levels depending on the site. There is space at some and others are more crowded,' said Max Chauvin, HRM Housing and Homelessness director. Chauvin is bracing for more as the number of people living in tents tends to grow in the summer months. 'We haven't seen a lot of that yet. Still do expect that to happen certainly in May and June,' he said. Chauvin says he doesn't see the city opening more encampment sites to handle the increase. With overall homelessness numbers trending downward, the province is now looking to transfer funds from emergency shelters to more long-term solutions. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
