Latest news with #outreachworkers
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Homeless people in Nova Scotia's woods choosing to stay despite ban, wildfire risk
As wildfires burn around Nova Scotia and officials caution about the risk of more fires breaking out, community organizations and government departments are trying to get people living in the woods to leave. Many, however, cannot be convinced. "There's reluctance because it is home to some people … that's their comfort area," said Matthew Reid, the manager of Souls Harbour Rescue Mission's mobile outreach program. Reid's team of six outreach workers travel around Halifax in vans, connecting with homeless people to offer food, clothing and other resources. The outreach workers have an exemption from the provincewide ban on entering the woods so they can continue their work, which has taken on a new urgency in recent weeks. "We try to educate as best we can to let them know that right now it's not safe to be living in the woods, as the conditions are very dry, and encourage them to find shelter in other places," Reid said. Nova Scotia hasn't had significant rainfall since June, causing widespread drought and setting the stage for wildfires. Fire crews are battling multiple blazes, including one major out-of-control fire that has forced the evacuation of more than one hundred homes. On Aug. 5, Premier Tim Houston announced a ban on entering the woods, punishable by a $25,000 fine. The same fine applies to having open fires. At least a dozen fines have been levied, but the province is not yet applying them to homeless people sheltering in forests. CBC News requested an interview with an official from the Department of Opportunities and Social Development but no one was made available. "The province's priority right now is safety and support. Outreach efforts have been successful in encouraging people to relocate without the need for enforcement," a spokesperson said by email. More than 100 still sleeping rough As of Friday, the department said 63 people had relocated from wooded encampments, moving either to a shelter or moving their tents to non-wooded areas. But many more are still sleeping rough in "high risk" settings — that is, in or near the woods. The latest estimate was 137 people. Dalhousie Legal Aid lawyer Nadia Shivji said levying fines is discretionary, and she supported the use of that discretion. "The fact that we haven't seen any of these cases hopefully shows some compassion.… I think that's positive," she said in an interview. Shivji said the ban should be respected as much as possible, for the sake of public safety. But, she added, the province cannot reasonably enforce it on people who are homeless and living in poverty unless they're offering "practical alternatives." "As of now, we haven't seen a lot of assistance from the province in addressing the homelessness problem, or a lot of meaningful assistance," she said. Shivji said there would be no public interest in issuing a $25,000 fine to someone who has no means to pay it. "On the flip side, receiving one of those fines for someone in such a vulnerable position can be detrimental to their ability to get back on their feet," she said. Shelter beds added In an email, a Department of Opportunities and Social Development spokesperson described a rapid, concerted effort between multiple provincial departments, municipalities and community groups to relocate people. They said shelter organizations have opened an extra 125 emergency beds in the past two weeks. "Our priority is simple – keeping people safe – and we've moved quickly to make that happen," the spokesperson said. Shivji said the province could take the extreme step of arresting people for breaking the ban on being in the woods, but noted that anyone arrested would have to be quickly released, as the offence would not warrant being detained. Politicians keep mum Elected officials have been tight-lipped on the issue of homeless encampments in the woods during the drought. Last week, a Natural Resources official revealed in a news conference with the premier that the wildfire near Susies Lake in Halifax started with an open fire, made by people. No one was present when fire crews arrived, meaning charges are impossible, the official said. When a reporter asked whether the fire started at a tent encampment, Houston deflected, saying an investigation will take place "after we get through this." "But for right now, the focus is just on containing the fire, fighting the fires, and just kind of reiterating to Nova Scotians that it's a risky situation and just obey the laws that are in place right now," Houston said. Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore had a similar response when he was asked what options the city is considering for relocating people from the woods. "It's a little too soon to get into details," Fillmore said in an interview on CBC Morning Live. "I will have more to say about that after a few more conversations with the [provincial housing] minister, but we are looking at a way of getting folks out of danger, and therefore getting us all out of danger by getting them out of the woods," he said. Halifax Regional Municipality declined a request for an interview with the city's manager of housing and homelessness. MORE TOP STORIES
CBC
7 hours ago
- General
- CBC
Homeless people in Nova Scotia's woods choosing to stay despite ban, wildfire risk
Social Sharing As wildfires burn around Nova Scotia and officials caution about the risk of more fires breaking out, community organizations and government departments are trying to get people living in the woods to leave. Many, however, cannot be convinced. "There's reluctance because it is home to some people … that's their comfort area," said Matthew Reid, the manager of Souls Harbour Rescue Mission's mobile outreach program. Reid's team of six outreach workers travel around Halifax in vans, connecting with homeless people to offer food, clothing and other resources. The outreach workers have an exemption from the provincewide ban on entering the woods so they can continue their work, which has taken on a new urgency in recent weeks. "We try to educate as best we can to let them know that right now it's not safe to be living in the woods, as the conditions are very dry, and encourage them to find shelter in other places," Reid said. Nova Scotia hasn't had significant rainfall since June, causing widespread drought and setting the stage for wildfires. Fire crews are battling multiple blazes, including one major out-of-control fire that has forced the evacuation of more than one hundred homes. On Aug. 5, Premier Tim Houston announced a ban on entering the woods, punishable by a $25,000 fine. The same fine applies to having open fires. At least a dozen fines have been levied, but the province is not yet applying them to homeless people sheltering in forests. CBC News requested an interview with an official from the Department of Opportunities and Social Development but no one was made available. "The province's priority right now is safety and support. Outreach efforts have been successful in encouraging people to relocate without the need for enforcement," a spokesperson said by email. More than 100 still sleeping rough As of Friday, the department said 63 people had relocated from wooded encampments, moving either to a shelter or moving their tents to non-wooded areas. But many more are still sleeping rough in "high risk" settings — that is, in or near the woods. The latest estimate was 137 people. Dalhousie Legal Aid lawyer Nadia Shivji said levying fines is discretionary, and she supported the use of that discretion. "The fact that we haven't seen any of these cases hopefully shows some compassion.… I think that's positive," she said in an interview. Shivji said the ban should be respected as much as possible, for the sake of public safety. But, she added, the province cannot reasonably enforce it on people who are homeless and living in poverty unless they're offering "practical alternatives." "As of now, we haven't seen a lot of assistance from the province in addressing the homelessness problem, or a lot of meaningful assistance," she said. Shivji said there would be no public interest in issuing a $25,000 fine to someone who has no means to pay it. "On the flip side, receiving one of those fines for someone in such a vulnerable position can be detrimental to their ability to get back on their feet," she said. Shelter beds added In an email, a Department of Opportunities and Social Development spokesperson described a rapid, concerted effort between multiple provincial departments, municipalities and community groups to relocate people. They said shelter organizations have opened an extra 125 emergency beds in the past two weeks. "Our priority is simple – keeping people safe – and we've moved quickly to make that happen," the spokesperson said. Shivji said the province could take the extreme step of arresting people for breaking the ban on being in the woods, but noted that anyone arrested would have to be quickly released, as the offence would not warrant being detained. Politicians keep mum Elected officials have been tight-lipped on the issue of homeless encampments in the woods during the drought. Last week, a Natural Resources official revealed in a news conference with the premier that the wildfire near Susies Lake in Halifax started with an open fire, made by people. No one was present when fire crews arrived, meaning charges are impossible, the official said. When a reporter asked whether the fire started at a tent encampment, Houston deflected, saying an investigation will take place "after we get through this." "But for right now, the focus is just on containing the fire, fighting the fires, and just kind of reiterating to Nova Scotians that it's a risky situation and just obey the laws that are in place right now," Houston said. Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore had a similar response when he was asked what options the city is considering for relocating people from the woods. "It's a little too soon to get into details," Fillmore said in an interview on CBC Morning Live. "I will have more to say about that after a few more conversations with the [provincial housing] minister, but we are looking at a way of getting folks out of danger, and therefore getting us all out of danger by getting them out of the woods," he said. Halifax Regional Municipality declined a request for an interview with the city's manager of housing and homelessness.
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
How do you help homeless people in a heatwave?
Outreach workers are seeing more people sleeping outside during extreme heat this summer, putting a strain on shelter resources.
CBC
08-08-2025
- Climate
- CBC
How do you help homeless people in a heatwave?
5 minutes ago News Duration 2:42 Outreach workers are seeing more people sleeping outside during extreme heat this summer, putting a strain on shelter resources.
CBS News
18-07-2025
- CBS News
Leaders move to clear homeless encampment under 31st Street Bridge while trying to keep another from springing up
PennDOT on Monday will be decommissioning a new encampment under the 31st Street Bridge. The decommissioning comes with offers of help, but it also comes with a new resolve to prevent their return. Responding to complaints from homeowners on Washington's Landing of drug activity and aggressive panhandling above Route 28, PennDOT removed that encampment, but those living there have simply relocated to a spot under the 31st Street Bridge. "They congregate under the bridge, they sleep under the bridge, there's obviously activities happening under that bridge that frankly nobody would want 50 yards from their home," said Gerry Delon of Washington's Landing. "Unfortunately, as I think, what you see now has become evident, is it's a problem that does tend to migrate from place to place," Delon added. PennDOT is also moving again, posting signs warning those living there to vacate by Monday, at which time a hired contractor will clear the encampment and trash any tents and debris that remain. In recent days, outreach workers from the county have been on site providing alternatives. The decommissioning of the encampment comes with offers of help for both shelter and treatment, but the city, county, and in this case, the state, want to be clear: they don't want a new encampment springing up, and they will move quickly to remove another. After years of encampments lining the city's riverfronts, the city and county have moved aggressively in the past several months to decommission one on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail on the Allegheny, a sprawling encampment on the Eliza Furnace Trail behind the county jail and most recently, the removal of an entrenched encampment along the Mon on the South Side. Not wanting to see their return, the city has posted the trails and its parks, stating that its no camping ordinances will be strictly enforced, and Allegheny County Human Services Director Erin Dalton recently said the county would reach out to anyone who pitches a tent. "There will always be probably some people staying outside. But we will come to where they are. We're not giving up in offering housing to people," Dalton said.
