DSU Statement of Solidarity with
Unhoused Residents of People’s Park
For immediate release.
July 22, 2022
DSU Statement of Solidarity with Unhoused Residents of People’s Park
On July 5th, the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) announced that Meagher Park (otherwise known as People’s Park) would now be closed for “restoration and renovation” and issued notice to the park’s unhoused inhabitants to vacate the premises before July 17th or face fines, forcible eviction, or both. People’s Park became the site of an encampment last August after a similar notice by the HRM resulted in the violent eviction of unhoused inhabitants outside the Halifax Memorial Library in downtown Halifax. The eviction deadline of July 17th has now passed, and residents remaining in People’s Park are facing increased government pressure to relocate into precarious and often unsafe temporary accommodations.
At the Dalhousie Student Union, we see that what is happening at Meagher’s Park exists along the same continuum as the housing crisis being experienced by our students and community members. We believe there is no inherent moral failing on the part of the unhoused, and without the right support, anyone can end up in these circumstances. As students, we experience the housing crisis acutely, and the situation is progressing and becoming increasingly dire for students.
The Dalhousie Student Union stands in full support with the residents of People’s Park and condemns the Municipality for the unjust eviction of its residents.
As an expression of support and solidarity, the DSU pledges a donation of $1000 which will be divided between two housing security initiatives: $500 will be donated to Mobile Outreach Street Health, and $500 will be donated to Out of the Cold Community Association to support their community outreach fund.
The DSU also recognizes and applauds all service providers and organizations who offer vital support to houseless community members in this city. Some of these organizations include:
Adsum House
Direction 180
Metro Turning Point Shelter
Mainline Needle Exchange
Halifax Mutual Aid
We encourage DSU members to support the letter-writing campaign organized by Halifax Mutual Aid (HMA), which allows anyone to send their thoughts about the evictions to all members of Halifax City Council, the provincial government, and to housing-related decision-makers at all levels of government.
The link to HMA’s letter-writing campaign can be found here:
Sincerely,
Aparna Mohan,
Dalhousie Student Union President On behalf of the Dalhousie Student Union