More Public Housing for Nova Scotians

More public housing is coming faster for Nova Scotians.

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr and Halifax MP Andy Fillmore, on behalf of Sean Fraser, federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, announced today, February 23, the locations of new public housing units in Halifax Regional Municipality and 25 new modular housing units that will be installed in eight communities across the province by end of March.

The new modular units will give up to 88 people a safe and affordable place to call home in Glace Bay, Ingonish, Port Hawkesbury, Antigonish, Amherst, Springhill, Westville and Barrington and are in addition to the 222 units announced last September, bringing the number of new public housing units in the province to 247.

In total, this means new housing for more than 600 people and marks the largest investment in new public housing in 30 years.

“We need more affordable and accessible public housing, and we’re dedicated to finding quicker solutions,” said Minister Lohr. “By using modular construction and building on provincially owned or serviced land, we’re getting more Nova Scotians into homes faster.”

The units will be built on land where public housing already exists.

Of the 222 units announced previously, about 150 will be in Halifax Regional Municipality. A new six-storey building will be constructed at 2313 Gottingen St. at Ahern Manor and Uniacke Square, and two new buildings will be built at Sackville Manor, 67 Old Beaver Bank Rd., one five storeys and the other two. Details of the other public housing sites will be released in the coming weeks.

The Province had set aside funding for modulars for those in need after the wildfires in Shelburne and Halifax Regional Municipality – $8.1 million of that funding will be used to purchase the 25 modular units, which will be operated by the Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency as deeply affordable rent-geared-to-income public housing.

The 222 units previously announced had a federal contribution of $24.4 million, with $58.8 million from the Province.

The sites were selected based on suitability of the property, capacity to add more units to existing public housing sites, need for public housing and accessible units, and proximity to services and amenities such as grocery stores and public transit.

Quotes:

“Everyone deserves a safe, dignified place to call home at a priced they can afford. That is what this investment is about: providing 600 people with the security of public housing through the largest such investment in over 30 years. The scale of this investment represents the scale of the challenge, and all we must do to address it.”
— Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, on behalf of Sean Fraser, federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

“Affordable housing investments are crucial for community well-being, and the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities stands in full support of initiatives that expand rent-geared-to-income options. We commend both provincial and federal governments for their dedication to constructing over 150 new public housing units, including fully accessible accommodations, in Halifax and Sackville. As President of NSFM, I affirm our readiness to collaborate closely with all stakeholders to ensure the swift provision of essential infrastructure vital for community prosperity and resilience.”
— Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, President, Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities

Quick Facts:

• of the 25 new modular housing units, six will be barrier free and 13 will have some accessible features, like grab bars
• 80 of the 222 units will be fully accessible

Additional Resources:

News release – New Public Housing for Nova Scotia: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2023/09/27/new-public-housing-nova-scotia

News release – Capital Plan 2024-25: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/02/14/capital-plan-2024-25

The housing needs assessment and Our Homes, Action for Housing are available at: https://novascotia.ca/action-for-housing/