Affordable Student Housing Pilot Program

Low-income, single parents attending St. Francis Xavier University will have access to affordable rental housing thanks to a student housing pilot program created under the Canada-Nova Scotia Affordable Housing agreement.

David Morse, Minister of Community Services, and Rodger Cuzner, MP, on behalf of Joe Fontana, Minister of Labour and Housing announced today, Nov. 23 that rent supplements will be provided for up to five low-income single-parent students attending St. Francis Xavier University full time.

"Access to affordable housing will help relieve some of the financial pressures for low-income single-parent students and their families while they attend university," said Mr. Morse. "As a result of this pilot, we hope to learn more about the needs of single-parent students and how we can best support their efforts to attend university."

"The Canada-Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Agreement is designed to support innovative, community based solutions," said Mr. Cuzner. "By providing support to students attending St. Francis Xavier University, the Government of Canada is responding to the needs of this community."

Single-parent students attending St. Francis Xavier University full time are able to apply for a rent supplement to help them pay their rent. Rent supplements will be available for qualifying students whose apartments have been safety inspected and approved by the Eastern Mainland Housing Authority. This means families may be able to continue to live in their current place of residence.

To qualify for the student housing program, applicants must be enrolled full time at St. Francis Xavier University, a lone custodial parent, eligible for public housing and approved for Nova Scotia Student Assistance.

"This project addresses the needs of student-parents who attend St. FX," said Jana Luker, vice president of student services with the university. "These students face the demands on every parent, with the added pressure and cost of attending university. We are pleased to work with the Department of Community Services to help alleviate some of the stress placed on these student-parents by providing access to affordable housing, ensuring a university education is possible."

The Department of Community Services has been working with universities in Nova Scotia to determine how to best support low income single-parent students attending university. A similar student housing pilot program was launched in September at Acadia University.

To date, more than $25.8 million has been announced by the provincial and federal governments for the construction or renovation of 593 units in the province. A total of $56.18 million will be available under Canada-Nova Scotia Affordable Housing agreement.

Information on the Canada-Nova Scotia Affordable Housing agreement is available at local housing services offices or on the Department of Community Services website at www.gov.ns.ca/coms .