'It's definitely an emergency': Homeless rates spiking in eastern Nova Scotia, study shows
The number of people who are homeless in eastern Nova Scotia is rising at an alarming rate, according to a recent study.
“It's easy at times to not notice if you're not in certain areas of the community or if you don't associate with certain people, but there are lots of people living in tents in Sydney. There are people sleeping on the street. There are people living under staircases of commercial buildings,” said Jodi McDavid, executive director of Cape Breton Transition House.
McDavid says rising costs and the lack of affordable housing is a combination of factors that are sending people to the streets.
“You are talking about people who were already having a hard time to make a go of it. It is an emergency. It's definitely an emergency,” said McDavid.
Nearly 500 people in eastern Nova Scotia are struggling with homelessness, according to numbers released by Cape Breton University.
“The interventions that we've been applying to the challenge have not been working,” said Erika Shea, president and CEO of New Dawn Enterprises, a social welfare organization that provides supportive housing.
Shea warns that CBRM will see its own tent cities popping up if something is not done soon.
“Our colleagues at the Ally Centre share with us that they're not able to keep donated tents in stock. As soon as they are provided with a supply of tents, those tents are claimed,” said Shea.
Forty-nine per cent of people struggling with homelessness are women and 47 per cent are men according to the study, with the majority over the age of 29.
“It is imperative that all three levels of government look at this as an urgent social and economic issue, and not one that we can just tweak and message the solutions we've been applying,” said Shea.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.