Modular units planned for the parking lot of the Centennial Pool won’t be ready until mid-March.
That’s according to a staff report coming to Halifax regional council on Tuesday, seeking approval for $1.2 million in additional spending for those units and the Dartmouth-side housing that’s almost complete.
In the report dated Jan. 5, Michael MacDonald, capital projects manager, and Paul Johnston, managing director of government relations and external affairs, wrote that the Dartmouth units, housing 26 people, will be ready “within days of the date of this report.”
After HRM initially screwed up the procurement, the units were supposed to be complete by the end of November, while the Halifax units were to be done in January. Then the timeline changed to late December and early February.
Construction on the Halifax-side units, which will house 38 people, is now expected to start in late-January.
“Exact timing for occupancy is dependent upon the province, which is responsible for determining placement of individuals and providing wrap-around services onsite through its service provider,” MacDonald and Johnston wrote.
“It is anticipated the Halifax shelter will be ready for occupancy by mid-March 2022.”
Costs have ballooned at both sites more several reasons, including “Unsuitable site material below existing parking lot asphalt” in Dartmouth, “Electrical and mechanical infrastructure costs to accommodate commercial kitchen equipment” in Halifax, and “site security” on either side.
Council approved $3.2 million in spending for the modular units in November, on top of $500,000 in August. Now it’s being asked to approve another $1.2 million. The money would come from the city’s 2021-2022 surplus.
HRM paid Bird Construction $475,000 for modular units on Nov. 1, according to the provincial alternative procurement site.
The municipality is still running a shelter out of the Gray Arena in Dartmouth. Those people will move to the Dartmouth waterfront site when it’s complete.
The Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia counts the number of people currently homeless in Halifax at 468.
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I think this is a wonderful initiative, especially as it is a permanent location for Out of the Cold who are very skilled at working with our vulnerable population. But, March is not okay. That being said it is unlikely to change and it seems that warming centers are open extra hours and people are being put up in hotels. The bigger problem is that there is still a large tenting population who will not be offered space in these units and there is no plan for. What ideas are there for how we will support those people? Some are the ones we say will not come inside. I’m not sure that is true. I believe each individual has different circumstances as the queue is worked through solutions can be found for all. It just needs to remain a constant priority with lots of organizations and people working together.