Halifax police are investigating after a woman was found dead in a tent in a homeless encampment site on Barrington Street.
A statement from Halifax Regional Police said officers responded to a report of a sudden death on Barrington Street near the Macdonald bridge around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.
It said investigators found a woman deceased in a tent.
The Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death. It said the death is not suspicious.
Police say the investigation is in the early stages. Police were expected to remain on scene throughout Wednesday.
The death happened at one of two remaining designated homeless encampment sites in the municipality.
Staff said there are about 10 people staying at the Barrington Street encampment.
Bill Moore, commissioner of public safety at Halifax Regional Municipality, said he received word of the sudden death on Wednesday morning.
He said the municipality’s housing navigators will be looking into what happened. He said outreach workers regularly visit both designated and undesignated sites to offer supports.
Moore said there is currently sufficient spaces inside the municipality’s shelters, but some people are choosing to stay in encampments.
When weather events happen, staff work with people in encampment before and after the event to offer them indoor shelter, he said.
