Minister Recognizes National Housing Day

National Housing Day is an excellent time to reflect on the importance of providing affordable housing in the province and across the country, Nova Scotia Community Services Minister David Morse said today, Nov. 22.

Mr. Morse, who is co-chair of the National Housing Ministers' Conference to be held in Halifax in 2004, told participants at a National Housing Day event in Halifax that much work has been done to ensure the housing needs of Nova Scotians, but more remains to be done.

"There is a need for safe, adequate, affordable and sustainable housing and it will require significant effort on behalf of all levels of government and the community to ensure a sufficient supply," he said.

Mr. Morse pointed to the new Affordable Housing Initiative, undertaken by the federal, provincial and territorial governments, as a step in the right direction. The $37.26 million Canada-Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Agreement signed by the province last fall will be jointly funded by the federal government and the province and its housing partners. The program is expected to increase the supply of affordable housing for low- to moderate-income Nova Scotians by up to 1,500 units over the next five years.

"We look forward to working with our housing partners to ensure an adequate supply of affordable housing in Nova Scotia," said Mr. Morse. "We've just completed the first project in the Annapolis Valley and plan to announce a metro-based project in a couple of weeks."

Mr. Morse explained that governments also partner on other housing programs. The federal and provincial governments each contribute about $2 million annually, for example, to support programs, services and facilities for people at risk of homelessness through the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative. Over the past three years, more than 30 projects have been completed as a result of the initiative.

In addition, an average of $85 million is spent on social housing programs in Nova Scotia each year to support close to 20,000 fixed- or low-income families, seniors and people with special needs. This includes rental accommodations or supplements, grants or loans for home repairs or renovations, and mortgages to purchase or build modest homes.

"We are committed to improving the well-being of Nova Scotians by ensuring that everyone has access to affordable housing," said Mr. Morse. "We will continue to work on solutions with all levels of government and the community."