Nadine Yousif
@nadineyousif.bsky.social
Senior Canada reporter for the BBC. Also here for hummus recommendations and good sunsets. Get in touch: nadine.yousif@bbc.co.uk or DM for Signal
In Canada, legal precedent so far has found that encampments are lawful if the people living in them have no other option for housing. But opposition against this is playing out in real time, and - at least in Ontario - a legal showdown over this is looking likely: globalnews.ca/news/1084938...
Ford’s toughening rhetoric on homeless encampments amid many legal barriers | Globalnews.ca
The number of encampments in downtowns large and small across the province has grown in recent years, with mayors demanding solutions.
globalnews.ca
November 25, 2024 at 12:54 PM
In Canada, legal precedent so far has found that encampments are lawful if the people living in them have no other option for housing. But opposition against this is playing out in real time, and - at least in Ontario - a legal showdown over this is looking likely: globalnews.ca/news/1084938...
Halifax is also an example of how the approach to encampments in Canada - while not uniform - has deviated sharply from the legal precedent set in the US, where the Supreme Court ruled that cities can outright ban encampments.
November 25, 2024 at 12:54 PM
Halifax is also an example of how the approach to encampments in Canada - while not uniform - has deviated sharply from the legal precedent set in the US, where the Supreme Court ruled that cities can outright ban encampments.
The reason I chose to focus on Halifax is two-fold: it is one of the only cities that have moved to formally designate encampments through its city council. It is also a city that reflects a story seen across Canada of ballooning homelessness since the pandemic that has left governments stumped.
November 25, 2024 at 12:54 PM
The reason I chose to focus on Halifax is two-fold: it is one of the only cities that have moved to formally designate encampments through its city council. It is also a city that reflects a story seen across Canada of ballooning homelessness since the pandemic that has left governments stumped.
An underlying theme I heard is that nobody wants homeless encampments, including the people living in them, who instead want dignified, affordable housing options. But progress on solving the housing crisis has been painfully slow, all while costs continue to rise & folks are struggling to keep up.
November 25, 2024 at 12:54 PM
An underlying theme I heard is that nobody wants homeless encampments, including the people living in them, who instead want dignified, affordable housing options. But progress on solving the housing crisis has been painfully slow, all while costs continue to rise & folks are struggling to keep up.