New Homeless Man Found Dead in Tent in Halifax Encampment

Halifax Regional Police have reported that a 56-year-old man was discovered dead in a tent at the Geary Street encampment near the Dartmouth waterfront. His identity has not yet been disclosed, and the cause of death is currently under investigation by the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service.

This tragic incident marks the third death of a man in his 50s found outdoors in Nova Scotia since late November. William Walsh was found outside a fishing tent in Windsor, N.S., on Nov. 26, and Bobby Hiltz passed away in Miner’s Marsh park in Kentville, N.S., a week later.

Advocates and family members of the deceased have emphasized the urgent need for more mental health and addiction resources, as well as affordable housing options. The Geary Street green space is one of five approved homeless encampment sites designated by Halifax Regional Council.

According to HRM’s website, the other approved sites include Green Road Park in Dartmouth, as well as the Barrington Street green space, Cogswell Park, and Lower Flinn Park in Halifax. As of Nov. 28, municipal housing and homelessness staff reported a total of 62 tents and three trailers across these designated locations, with four additional sites ready to be opened if necessary.

Despite the ongoing homelessness crisis, Halifax council recently voted against Mayor Andy Fillmore’s motion to retract the list of potential sites and limit the chief administrative officer’s authority to open them. Fillmore believed that the worst of the housing crisis in HRM was over, with more provincial shelter options becoming available soon. However, councillors expressed concerns that retracting the list prematurely could worsen the situation.

As of Dec. 18, the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia’s by-name list indicated that 1,222 individuals in Halifax were in need of housing, including those living on the streets, in shelters, hotel rooms, and other unstable conditions. In October, the Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency reported a waiting list of 7,020 individuals seeking affordable public housing, with half of them being seniors.