As the city continues to deal with a housing crisis, Halifax Council is looking into allowing RV’s to be used as temporary homes.

Staff say they would be used for things like short term accommodations, seasonal rentals, backyard suites and emergency sheltering.

To make it permittable, zoning would be required to change.

Councillor David Hendsbee brought the motion forward saying RV’s have been more and more popular, especially due to the homeless situation.

“I’ve had some constituents, someone with children trying to find a place to live or rent, and in the meantime, they want to plug in their RV in the side yard rather than at home in the RV, but according to the zoning, that’s not permittable.”

Supporting the staff report, is Councillor Tony Mancini.

He says just this winter the campground at Shubie park was kept open to help those experiencing homelessness, with about 12 people left who need to leave by the end of April.

“I see a lot of these people on a daily basis who are in there. Some of these folks… many of them are working, some of them were renovicted. Tenting or trailering is a new thing for them…they were able to acquire the funds to get a trailer, so it has worked very well.”

Mancini adds this motion is very timely and the city should be more flexible with rooming.