Helping Families with Back-to-school Costs

Nova Scotia families receiving income assistance are getting help from the Department of Community Services with the cost of back-to-school pencils, backpacks, calculators and other supplies.

"Paying for back-to-school supplies is a financial strain for many families," said Judy Streatch, Minister of Community Services. "We recognize that and it's why we are helping to relieve some of the financial pressure that each new school year brings to families who receive assistance."

Families will receive $50 for each five- to 12-year-old child and $100 for each child 13 years of age and older who is attending public school. The money will be added to income assistance cheques sent out in late August. Families are not required to apply for the funding.

Ms. Streatch said that her department is budgeting $757,750 to help ease the families' burden of paying for school supplies.

This is the seventh year that the Department of Community Services has helped families with back-to-school costs.

About 10,780 students will benefit from the funding.