New Office Complex to Improve Service Delivery

COMMUNITY SERVICES--New Office Complex to Improve Service Delivery

The Department of Community Services' new office complex officially opened today, June 27, in Middleton, Annapolis Co. The complex will house a wide range of services offered by the department, including housing, income assistance, employment support and community support for adults.

"Our goal is to improve service delivery to our clients," said Community Services Minister David Morse. "By locating various programs in one office, we will be better able to assess clients' overall needs and provide better access to all of our services."

In addition to housing the Department of Community Services, the office complex will contain the offices of the Department of Environment and Labour and the Annapolis Valley Housing Authority. It also contains a large boardroom facility that will be made available for use by the community.

The Department of Community Services office complex is part of a larger development that is intended to be a model for sustainable communities in the province. It includes the creation of 15 new affordable housing units that represent the first project in the province to be developed under the Canada-Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Program.

Construction on the development began in November 2002. The office complex was completed in early June and the housing units are expected to be complete in the fall. The department anticipates further development of the lands by the municipality and the private sector.