Nova Scotia’s Court of Appeal rules the province cannot deny enhanced income support to unhoused people living in tents. The decision overturns the province’s ability to refuse that additional assistance based on housing status, directing that eligibility must include people sheltering outdoors.
The ruling comes in a broader context of limited shelter capacity and heightened risks for people without secure housing. Several advocates and observers point to concerns affecting women in particular, including exposure to violence and the lack of available shelter beds. Global News notes that the court’s approach reflects that reality, while City News Toronto reports the case result that the province’s refusal is not permitted.
While the two outlets focus on the same outcome, they differ in emphasis: City News Toronto highlights the legal finding on the province’s obligation, and Global News adds context about why advocates say tent living creates specific risks, including for women, that shaped arguments in the case.
