Halifax Residents Get New Affordable Rental Housing

People living in Halifax Regional Municipality will have access to more affordable rental housing thanks to a $1.96-million, 23-unit development approved under the Canada-Nova Scotia Affordable Housing agreement.

David Morse, Minister of Community Services, and Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of Joe Fontana, federal Minister of Labour and Housing made the announcement today, Nov. 25.

"Affordable housing is essential to the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities," said Mr. Morse. "The creation of safe, affordable, and sustainable housing addresses a pervasive need in Halifax."

"We remain committed to working with our provincial colleagues to create affordable homes for people living in Halifax and the surrounding areas," said Mr. Regan. "Our on-going support creates new, affordable rental housing in Nova Scotia that might not have been available otherwise."

The development will be located on Main Avenue in Fairview. The four-storey building will create 23 units of affordable rental housing for seniors, persons with disabilities, small families and single-person households. All of the units are either barrier-free or visitable. This means they incorporate design features that reduce obstacles to people with physical disabilities or reduced mobility.

The project is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2006. The government of Canada is providing $575,000 in up-front capital funding, while the province is committing $182,000 in rent supplement funding. Rockingstone Development Inc. will provide about 20 per cent of the total development cost.

To date, more than $28 million has been announced by the government of Canada, and the province of Nova Scotia and its partners for the construction or renovation of nearly 650 units in the province. A total of $56.18 million will be available under the 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 .