Co-operative Approach

The Department of Housing and Municipal Affairs will explore the potential for introducing an innovative new co-operative housing program aimed at assisting low income, working families in Nova Scotia obtain home ownership.

Housing and Municipal Affairs Minister Guy Brown stressed the need for this type of co-operative, community-based program, especially in rural areas of the province.

"I am committed to this approach as a way of providing safe, affordable, adequate housing for the people of this province who need it most," he said. "I firmly believe in the co-operative spirit that exists in Nova Scotia and the benefits associated with the pooling of our resources to help build a better future for our neighbours."

Staff from the department's regional offices will consult with community groups, municipal governments and the private sector later this spring to gather input and determine the level of support for a co-operative approach. The next step will involve establishing pilot projects in rural areas of the province. The location of the pilots will be based on the results of the consultation process and the level of support and interest expressed by individual communities.

"Viable partnerships with the community are critical to the success of this housing initiative," said the minister. "We must look at innovative ways that volunteer organizations, government and the private sector can pool their resources to address the need for affordable housing in their communities."

Education is a key component of this approach. Participants would take part in sessions covering all aspects of new home ownership including construction, insurance, maintenance, financial management and provincial/municipal bylaws. Members would form groups that would draw on pooled benefits such as volume purchasing, as well as the support and resources of fellow co-operative members.

Another key principle involves asking prospective home owners to provide equity in the form of labour, land, sweat equity, materials or cash. The department would assist in the provision of low cost mortgages in proportion to the participant equity contribution.