On a Friday afternoon, Wade Tanner finds himself in his downtown Halifax, N.S. tent, meticulously arranging his assortment of pill bottles as he prepares to take his daily medication.
While battling ongoing, severe health issues, Tanner also grapples with the daily hardships of living on the streets.
“There’s a shortage of water, rats, and drugs,” he describes a typical night. “It’s a drug haven here in the tent city. You can hardly get any sleep with all the druggies from different parts of the city running around all night long.”
Tanner was recently discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment for complications stemming from cirrhosis of the liver caused by hepatitis C and congestive heart failure following a heart attack he had a year ago.
Despite his dire circumstances, Tanner has been unsuccessful in securing a spot at The Bridge, a shelter in Dartmouth with a nursing floor.
“Nobody is willing to help me,” Tanner laments. “I’ve been going to different places seeking help, but everyone just passes the buck. They send me to one agency after another, and still, nothing gets done.”
Richard Young, Tanner’s friend who has been living in a tent alongside him for over a month, fears the day when he may not wake up inside his tent.
“He’s sick,” Young acknowledges. “He needs care, but he’s living in a tent. It’s like he’s been forgotten.”
Although Young has only recently become homeless, he describes the experience as demoralizing.
“It crushes your soul, believe me,” Young reveals. “And the longer you stay here, the worse it gets. Some days, it’s even difficult to get out of bed.”
Tanner is desperate to find a place to spend his remaining years.
“I’m dying,” Tanner explains. “All I want is a peaceful place where I can live without causing trouble or having people constantly bother me. I just need somewhere to go.”
According to the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia’s By Name List as of August 29, there are 1,012 people experiencing homelessness in HRM, a nearly 60% increase since August of last year and approximately a 500% increase since 2018.
These numbers do not account for individuals who may be seeking shelter in rural HRM, sleeping in their cars, or staying with friends or family.
“We’re forgotten,” Tanner laments. “Everyone seems to forget about us. It’s just not right.”
City staff will present a report to the council next week, outlining potential options for additional designated tent locations and alternative strategies to address homelessness.
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