Thank you for reading our petition to HRM and please share with others who use and enjoy the Halifax Common.

In response to the city and province's housing crisis, on July 9th Halifax Regional Municipality Council voted to make the Halifax Common a potential site for a designated tent encampment, despite the city council voting in September 2023 against such an encampment on the Halifax Common. 

This urban green space is enjoyed by young, new and older residents and visitors of HRM for recreation and special events where the community can gather in a safe and communal space. 

 

 

 

 

We are daily users and neighbours of the Commons. Everyone across Halifax uses the Commons for things like baseball, swimming, running, skating, flying kites, and gathering together in the green spaces.

The purpose of this petition is to remove the Halifax Common as a potential site for a designated tent encampment for the following reasons:

 

• The Commons is the city’s front yard enjoyed by all: How will a designated tent encampment affect the Common, the Oval, the pool, sports fields and the park’s participants throughout the year?

 

• One square block next to the Common has been hosting 128 HRM-designated shelter beds since 2022: From Cogswell St to Cunard St, and Gottingen St to North Park St - what is the appropriate amount of community support one square block can safely provide? 

  
  38 BEDS - Out Of The Cold, 5580 Cogswell St, Halifax
  10 BEDS - Souls Harbour Mission, 5568 Cunard St, Halifax
  40 BEDS - Salvation Army Shelter, 2044 Gottingen St, Halifax
  40 BEDS - 902 Man Up - 2029 North Park St, Halifax

   

  

 

• HRM has been unable to meet its standards for safety and density in any of its designated camping sites: Do you feel that the conditions exist to make this HRM’s first successful designated tent encampment?

 

• The Halifax Common is an inappropriate site for a tent encampment because of its proximity to schools, playgrounds and pedestrian corridors. Other potential sites across HRM have been delisted because of their proximity to established infrastructure, why not the Common?

 

• HRM Council has held no meaningful public consultation about homeless supports in and around the Common since 2022. Should HRM Council engage residents and users about the other options they have explored for potential tent encampment sites?

 

The Halifax Common is a busy, vibrant space enjoyed year-round by residents and visitors for the physical and mental health benefits a community green space provides. 

With your help, our goal is to collect 3000 signatures that ask HRM Council and staff to delist the Halifax Common as a potential site for a designated tent encampment.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for joining us to preserve the Halifax Common for play, not camping.