Matthieu Tetreault closes the door of his wooden range and settles again right into a chair beside his canine, espresso cup in hand.
He says he is undecided how for much longer he’ll have moments like this within the addition he constructed onto his Ford Glendale RV.
The RV sits on his mom’s property in Wellington, a rural neighborhood simply north of Fall River within the Halifax Regional Municipality. Tetreault has been within the RV since this previous summer time — however after a latest grievance, HRM employees issued him a letter saying the setup contravenes the local land-use bylaw and he has to depart by Feb. 2.
“I would love the HRM to form of take into account not making individuals homeless,” Tetreault mentioned.
“Am I supposed to simply get a tent now? Would that be extra possible to them? I do not perceive why it is that huge a deal, when there’s individuals in worse-off conditions than I am in.”
Tetreault served within the navy for about 9 years earlier than leaving with a again damage. He now works full time within the development trade, however he cannot afford a spot that is additionally pet-friendly to accommodate his large-breed canine, Harper.
Tetreault mentioned though he understands HRM has bylaws towards individuals residing in RVs, there needs to be some leeway given the continued housing disaster. He had his wooden range constructed to the right codes, he mentioned, and an inspector with Halifax Regional Hearth and Emergency signed off on it as a secure warmth supply.
Metropolis spokesperson Brynn Budden mentioned that whereas a Halifax Hearth inspector initially directed that the range was not for use, that instruction was later rescinded after receiving further info from the property proprietor. Planning employees, who issued the discover for Tetreault to cease residing within the RV, have been conscious of the “preliminary instruction that the range was not for use.”
“Security considerations across the wooden range have been resolved,” Budden mentioned.
Tetreault questions why the municipality has ordered him to depart, when greater than a dozen persons are residing of their RVs on the Shubie Campground this winter in a project supported by HRM and the provincial government.
“It is clearly not everlasting,” Tetreault mentioned about his state of affairs. “Simply with the economic system, it is a little bit tougher to avoid wasting up to have the ability to buy land and transfer ahead.”
Many municipalities throughout Nova Scotia, particularly cities and concrete centres, have guidelines towards residing in RVs for various weeks. Rural areas usually enable them for tenting, or haven’t got particular guidelines about them in any respect, whereas the Region of Queens allows RVs completely in some areas in the event that they meet sure standards.
Most neighbours have been useful and supportive of his state of affairs, Tetreault mentioned, a few of them dropping off firewood for him.
HRM letter issued in January
However at the very least one grievance concerning the RV was made to the town, which led to its order on Jan. 3, 2025.
Michelle McClung, Tetreault’s mom, mentioned she needs whoever complained had come to her instantly. She mentioned they might have moved the RV farther from the street or put up screening to cover it.
“He does not have to be homeless as a result of somebody does not just like the look of the RV,” McClung mentioned.
She mentioned she feels the complaint-based bylaw system is unfair, as a result of she is aware of of at the very least two different individuals within the neighbourhood who’ve been residing in RVs for years.
The state of affairs has been emotional for her, McClung mentioned, as a result of she will be able to’t provide Tetreault a lot area in her personal home on the property. It is already full together with her two different grownup sons and a grandchild, she mentioned.
“It is horrible,” McClung mentioned, talking by tears. “It is onerous after they all have to return house, you recognize, due to the circumstance and the economic system.”
If Halifax doesn’t retract the order, Tetreault mentioned he should keep on his mom’s sofa till he can determine a greater resolution.
Budden, the HRM spokesperson, mentioned the land-use bylaw is “designed to make sure that solely dwelling models that meet all municipal necessities are used for human habitation.”
Municipal employees are conscious of Tetreault’s case and are “reviewing the state of affairs,” however Budden mentioned no additional info was obtainable.
The town’s director of housing and homelessness instructed CBC final 12 months that the municipality usually drops enforcement of individuals residing in RVs as soon as they decide the property proprietor approves of the state of affairs.
Halifax employees are learning whether or not to permit RVs for residential use, and that report is predicted later this 12 months.
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