An encampment at a Halifax park, where unhoused people have lived in makeshift shelters since August, could soon be dismantled.
人们一直生活在Meagher Park，Chebucto Road和Dublin Street的角落里，所有秋冬。志愿者，居民和社区成员称为“人民公园”，该网站成为那些避难所强行驱逐from other public parks on August 18, 2021.
在电子邮件中到p.a.d.s.Community Network on Tuesday, Halifax’s top-ranking bureaucrat, CAO Jacques Dubé, told volunteers he was “optimistic that in the coming weeks [they would] participate in a process to peacefully close the park and move those in need of shelter to safe housing.”
The email Jacques Dubé sent to P.A.D.S. Tuesday.
P.A.D.S., a grassroots organization created following the park evictions, helped residents set up the park, but doesn’t run it.
Dubé’s email comes after multiple weekends where Halifax Regional Police (HRP) told residents and volunteers at the park to dismantle newly-built wooden structures, something the city has largely tolerated since the encampment was set up.
The Examiner requested an interview with Dubé, but a spokesperson for HRM said he was unavailable.
自8月的驱逐以来，HRM在公共公园允许营地，包括人民公园，在其高峰期间，这是一个生活在帐篷里约有30名无家可归者的家。现在留在网站上，虽然帐篷，用品和碎片仍然覆盖地面。
在回应杜布的邮件,P.A.D.S.说y would not assist with dismantling the park, and that they have “no say over the People’s Park and do not determine how those who reside there may react to HRM operations to close the park down.”
相反，p.a.d.s.告诉Dubé他们会尽量支持他们在永久住房转移时无与伦比的人。
Call on HRM to reassess bylaw
Earlier this week, P.A.D.S. said, they sent emails to all HRM’s councillors, asking them to reassess the city bylaw that prohibits camping in public parks. Under thatbylaw，禁止露营，“除非许可。”P.A.D.S.要求人力资源管理人员们考虑授予未加工的人的许可。
“Until there is enough housing and ample and stable sheltering for all unhoused persons there will be a need for people to take up space in public places,” P.A.D.S. wrote in its email to Dubé. “There needs to be allowances made to permit unhoused persons to shelter in public spaces without risking criminalization.”
In an interview on March 4, P.A.D.S. volunteer Rachelle Sauvé told the Examiner the network was concerned about a repeat of the August 18 park evictions.
“We know that there’s going to be more people who need to tent come spring. They’re already sort of coming out of the woodwork as the weather gets nicer,” Sauvé said.
“That’s not because people want to live in a place like this. It’s because they’re actually scared of being on their own without public eyes on what’s happening, because police and the HRM have been coming in. And we’re terrified that as soon as spring happens, that will come in greater force without there being places to actually send folks.”
警方告诉志愿者在公园停止建设
It’s been a long winter at People’s Park; though the numbers fluctuate, there have consistently been at least five to 10 residents sleeping outside. Residents have been lighting fires in the park in an effort to keep warm, and volunteers have helped build tent platforms using wood they purchased with donated funds. There is one tent onsite reserved for supplies and food, but volunteers say that’s not enough. Storing everything from clothing to food in one place has been cramped and created unnecessary conflict, they said.
The food tent at People’s Park on March 4. Photo: Leslie Amminson
2月25日，志愿者试图建立一个新的结构，是一个临时储藏室的临时食品供应。
“我们基本上要做一个木制的框架，”公园志愿者劳拉·帕特森说，采访了。“警察来了告诉我们停下来。然后在晚上他们进来，他们撕毁了。“
A cardboard sign placed on the spot where volunteers and residents tried to construct a food tent on March 4. Photo: Leslie Amminson
The next weekend, still frustrated, the volunteers tried again. This time, they tried building a raised wooden platform for a tent to sit on, something Patterson said they’d done countless times. Again, HRP showed up at the park, and told them to dismantle the structure.
帕特森说，HRP告诉志愿者，如果他们没有停止建设，他们将被罚款或被捕。志愿者再次停下来，并将平台分开。HRP将材料留在公园里。
Constable John MacLeod, spokesperson for HRP, confirmed in an emailed statement that officers told volunteers the structure was illegal and that there was “potential for enforcement” if they didn’t take it down.
HRM response
发言人在一份电子邮件声明中,人力资源管理id those living in People’s Park would be offered “alternate accommodations” by the province. This would include placement in the modular units currently under construction in Halifax, which will accommodate 38 residents. The units were supposed to be ready before the winter, but after multiple delays are now expected to be completed early May.
Lindell Smith，议员为人们公园所在的哈利法克斯半岛北部，在一封电子邮件中写信给审查员，一旦模块化单位完成，这座城市始终是城市打算在公园中移出居民。
HRM has promised alternate accommodations before.Emails obtained byThe Coast11月通过信息自由要求揭示了Dubé告诉委员会替代庇护所以为8月被驱逐的所有人而言。8月18日被驱逐的许多人最终在人民公园设立了营地。
Leave a Reply
你一定是登录to post a comment.