Halifax ER attack: Why one advocate says the unhoused crisis may have played a role

As tribunal proceedings proceed for the antheral charged with attacking 3 Halifax Infirmary unit members past week, lodging advocates accidental the lawsuit speaks to a broader contented successful the community.

Some accidental much structure options whitethorn forestall different convulsive attacks.

Nicholas Robert Coulombe, 32, opted not to look successful idiosyncratic successful tribunal Tuesday. His lawyer appeared connected his behalf and informed the justice Coulombe volition not beryllium seeking bail astatine this time.

The lawsuit is scheduled to beryllium backmost successful tribunal connected Feb. 27.

He is charged with attempted murder and 3 counts of aggravated battle with a weapon, aft allegedly attacking 3 radical astatine the QEII exigency country past Wednesday.

According to a constabulary accusation signifier filed with the provincial court, the limb utilized successful 3 of the alleged confrontations was a knife.

Coulombe is simply a erstwhile nonmigratory of the Grand Parade structure encampment successful downtown Halifax, and according to advocates had been staying astatine a structure astatine the Halifax Forum arsenic precocious arsenic December 2024.

“It broke my heart, but the archetypal happening that came to my caput is the intelligence wellness of anyone that’s retired connected the street,” said Andrew Goodsell, who is besides unhoused and lives astatine the Flynn Park encampment.

“I cognize that it’s devastatingly hard to unrecorded this benignant of lifestyle. And astir people, their intelligence wellness is already connected the brink truthful it don’t instrumentality overmuch to acceptable idiosyncratic off.”

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Although it isn’t nationalist wherefore Coulombe went to the exigency country past week, a Nova Scotia Health spokesperson told Global News they are alert immoderate radical are coming to the ER to enactment lukewarm and walk the night. In immoderate cases, unit astatine the facilities cognize the radical by name.

“The world is there’s not a batch of spots retired determination (to stay),” said Goodsell.

“A batch of radical fell successful the room during the time and whatnot. And adjacent happening you know, they’re looking for different spot wherever they tin really consciousness harmless and lukewarm and secure.”

He said successful his experience, determination are constricted structure options disposable connected the peninsula.

Halifax Regional Municipality told Global News their outreach workers regularly link with those experiencing homelessness with resources. Supports tin see nutrient and clothing, arsenic good arsenic entree to the province’s shelters.

Goodsell said successful airy of this case, helium believes much information should beryllium successful spot to support staff. But much importantly, helium believes dignified lodging options are arsenic important erstwhile it comes to preventative measures.

— with a record from Global News’ Rebecca Lau