As Nova Scotia grapples with a deepening homelessness crisis, housing advocates are sounding the alarm about the consequences of simply clearing encampments without providing viable alternatives. The Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Association (NSAHA) emphasizes that this approach fails to address the root causes of homelessness and may actually worsen the situation for vulnerable individuals.
The Human Cost of Encampment Closures
When authorities dismantle homeless encampments, they're not solving homelessness—they're just moving it elsewhere. According to NSAHA representatives, this practice disrupts the fragile support networks that unhoused people have established and separates them from essential services and community connections.
"These individuals aren't just losing a place to sleep; they're losing their community, their sense of safety, and their access to known support systems," explained a housing association spokesperson.
A Growing Crisis Demands Real Solutions
The homelessness situation in Nova Scotia has reached critical levels, with shelters consistently operating at full capacity and waiting lists for affordable housing stretching for years. The association points to several key factors driving this crisis:
- Skyrocketing rental costs outpacing income growth
- Severe shortage of affordable housing units
- Inadequate support services for mental health and addiction
- Limited emergency shelter capacity
Call for Coordinated Government Action
Rather than focusing on encampment removal, the NSAHA urges all levels of government to work together on comprehensive strategies that include:
- Accelerated development of affordable housing projects
- Increased funding for supportive housing with wraparound services
- Implementation of homelessness prevention programs
- Creation of designated safe spaces with basic amenities
"We need to stop treating the symptoms and start addressing the disease," the association emphasized. "Homelessness is fundamentally a housing problem, and it requires housing solutions."
Moving Toward Sustainable Solutions
The association advocates for a housing-first approach that prioritizes getting people into stable accommodation quickly, then providing the necessary support services. Evidence from other jurisdictions shows this method is not only more humane but also more cost-effective than cycling people through emergency services and temporary shelters.
As winter approaches and temperatures drop, the urgency for meaningful action intensifies. The NSAHA calls on policymakers to listen to those with lived experience of homelessness and to implement solutions that preserve dignity while addressing the structural issues fueling the crisis.
