Minister John Abbott is providing an update on efforts by the province’s Homelessness Task Force.

The task force was developed to address the tent city at Colonial Building in downtown St. John’s.

Abbott says their count of the number of residents has fluctuated between two and six people over the last few weeks. He says they are working to provide appropriate supports including harm reduction teams from NL Health Services and housing supports.

He says what they are trying to be careful of is that when they move someone into a long-term rental, they are ready for that step, which is why they are establishing those other supports as a first step.

Minister Abbott says the taskforce recently visited Halifax to see how their transitional housing has been working.

He says officials in Halifax have been complimentary of Newfoundland and Labrador’s approach as health care is provided at the front-end. Abbott calls that “critically important”.