Last week, we introduced you a sequence referred to as ‘On the Brink,’ which profiles people who find themselves battling the rising price of dwelling in Nova Scotia. Global News reporter Megan King lately sat down with Halifax Mayor Mike Savage to speak in regards to the housing challenges confronted by a rising metropolis. This interview has been edited for size and readability.
Q: You’ve been mayor of Halifax for over a decade now, and through that point we’ve seen numerous development and numerous change. That development comes with some challenges in terms of housing and affordability. Can you inform me what these adjustments appear like for you?
A: The adjustments we’ve seen in Halifax are the identical that we’ve seen throughout the nation, throughout the continent and actually all over the world. We would have thought after we went by way of COVID that every little thing would form of decelerate, and as an alternative issues accelerated — particularly in a metropolis that’s grown as quick as Halifax.
We’ve had numerous immigration during the last six years, and during the last couple of years we’ve seen the interprovincial migration come right here as nicely. It is nice, it’s higher than not rising, however there are issues that include these challenges, and homelessness is definitely the one which weighs on my thoughts. From the discussions I’ve had with different mayors, it’s what’s on their minds too.
So, we have now to determine these items out. Everyone has to place their ego — and, to some extent, their jurisdictional duties — to the facet, and say, “What is the problem here, and how do we get people housed?” That’s the main target that we have now.
Q: To converse to that, there’s been some headbutting between the provincial authorities and the municipality. How will we work collectively for the betterment of probably the most susceptible?
A: I’m extra inspired than I’ve been in a very long time with the connection with the province. I feel we would like the identical factor. We need development. We need housing. And we don’t need individuals homeless on the road.
Yes, it’s a provincial accountability, however the metropolis has stepped up in a really important means. But within the final few minutes, the province has taken some main steps, so I’m extra inspired at present than I used to be per week in the past, and I’m rather more inspired than I used to be a month in the past.
The minister of group companies and I’ve common discussions. John Lohr, the minister of housing, and I’ve discussions. And our officers get alongside very well.
People who’re sitting at dwelling, housed or unhoused, don’t care about what order of presidency is accountable, or what the social gathering may be of that authorities. What they care about is progress, and persons are feeling the pinch, so all of us should type of put our shoulder to the wheel.
Q: How does it really feel when you realize there are individuals sleeping tough daily?
A: Really, the way it impacts me is irrelevant. It impacts individuals who don’t have any place to dwell. Any human being, I feel, would take a look at a state of affairs of anyone dwelling in a tent, in Canada, and say, “First of all, it gets cold in Canada. Secondly, Canada’s a pretty wealthy country. We have the resources to deal with this.”
It’s a solvable difficulty. Is it complicated? Yeah. Is it easy? No. I’ve spoken to representatives of the federal and provincial governments and the bureaucracies on this difficulty, and I’m satisfied that there are answers, and a few of them, I feel, could possibly be comparatively speedy as a result of we don’t must have individuals sleeping outdoors.
For instance, we have now in Grand Parade various people who find themselves there. Do we would like them in Grand Parade? No. For their very own sake, we would like them inside. I’m not focused on simply making it extra comfy outdoors, I need individuals inside the place it’s heat. But if there’s no place to go, then these purple (winterized) tents are a greater answer.
So we’re going to work to offer energy to them within the meantime, and we have now some people on the market who will work with them and others to see if we are able to discover everlasting options so that everyone has an opportunity.
Red ice fishing enclosures are pictured at a tent encampment in downtown Halifax, Monday, Dec. 4, 2023.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
If you’re homeless, it’s bought to be an terrible feeling. As winter’s closing in, we’re getting near the longest, darkest day of the yr — take into consideration what it may be wish to be in a tent at three o’clock within the afternoon, figuring out that it’s getting darkish, it’s getting chilly, and the way do you survive the night time?
And for those who do survive the night time, you then’re pondering the subsequent day: the place do I get breakfast? Where do I get lunch? You’re at all times enthusiastic about find out how to get by way of the day, and we have to get to a spot the place all people has a tomorrow.
Q: Over the previous decade — even 5 years in the past — we didn’t see this type of homelessness within the streets. But did we not see this coming, when you consider the quantity of development we’ve had?
A: We haven’t had a nationwide housing technique from the early Nineties till 2018. We haven’t had important provincial funding in Nova Scotia. Under three totally different political events, we haven’t seen the disaster degree of funding that we would have liked.
And we’re no totally different. Every metropolis you might identify is having issues. I had a mayor final yr inform me that one of many worst issues he ever noticed was anyone sleeping in a dumpster as a result of there was warmth there. We don’t want to do this. There must be options.
Did we see it coming? We deliberate for development. In 2016, we set a goal: we needed a inhabitants of 550,000 by 2031, and we had been monitoring very nicely on that. We had the centre plan within the metropolis right here. We had been asking the province to permit us to do issues like density bonusing and reasonably priced housing. But what no one noticed was the good inflow of individuals throughout COVID.
But we’re all in the identical boat. I discuss to different mayors on a regular basis, I talked to various worldwide mayors final week, and it’s an enormous difficulty for positive.
Let’s put the jurisdiction to the facet. Let’s overlook in regards to the political philosophies. I feel that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Tim Houston, Mayor Mike Savage all need the identical factor. And I feel we’re all ready to do one thing to get there, and I’m seeing progress that makes me really feel extra constructive.
Q: Is there something that got here out of the final yr that you just wish to see continued or grown upon?
A: What we’d like is everlasting, sustainable, accessible, dignified housing for all individuals. I hear typically from individuals, “Well, they want to sleep outside.” I don’t assume anybody needs to sleep outdoors in Canada within the winter.
Let’s simply begin with the premise that housing is a human proper, and we’re a rich sufficient nation that we are able to present that if we select to. We’re ready to do our half to ensure that occurs.
And work with group — take a look at the United Way, and the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia, and the North End Community Health Centre, 902 Man Up, service suppliers.
There’s every kind of people who find themselves keen to assist. If we are able to get the fitting assets on the proper time, then I feel we may give individuals a tomorrow.
On the Brink: Halifax mayor on his growing city and the unfolding housing crisis