This week I spoke in the Nova Scotia Legislature about the struggles of some of our unhoused neighbors. Here is what I had to say:
As we sit here, my constituency office in Dartmouth North is actively supporting at least nine people who are unhoused. Some are sleeping in tents in designated parks, some are sleeping rough wherever they can, some are staying in the emergency shelter in Halifax, some in their cars, and too few are in hotels. Over half are seniors, many have serious health concerns, and some have lost custody of their children. All of them desperately want stable and safe, not to mention adequate, affordable, and healthy housing. We help them call the shelter diversion line; they tell them they’re over capacity. We help them call shelters, put them in touch with housing support workers, help them apply for emergency housing. We help them find food and gift cards. Sometimes the best we can do is help them find a tent. It is a sad state of affairs when MLA offices have to give out tents. It’s simply not good enough. We owe it to everyone who is or is at risk of becoming unhoused to come together and take urgent and substantial action on affordable housing. We can and we must do better.