Funding for Green Affordable Seniors Housing in Liverpool
The indoor unit of a heat pump sits on the living room wall. Three seniors converse, seated. Queens Neighbourhood Co-operative Housing Ltd. is receiving provincial support for energy efficiency measures in its affordable housing development for seniors in Liverpool. (Communications Nova Scotia /File)
New affordable housing for seniors in the Liverpool area will go green with support from the Province.
Queens Neighbourhood Co-operative Housing Ltd. is receiving a Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund grant to make 26 affordable units net-zero and passive design. That means the buildings will produce as much energy as they use and will be designed and built to use the least amount of energy possible.
Kim Masland, Minister of Public Works and MLA for Queens, announced the funding today, October 25, on behalf of Environment and Climate Change Minister Timothy Halman.
“This project is a win-win for our seniors and our community,” said Minister Masland. “The Queens Neighbourhood Co-operative Housing Ltd. is addressing the housing crisis and the climate crisis in one project. Our government is pleased to support this kind of community leadership, which creates communities where everyone has a home they can afford and homes that are green, energy efficient and sustainable.”
The co-operative will use the grant funding for solar panels, energy-efficient windows, and doors, and for other features which will reduce the homes’ carbon footprint, use less energy and be energy efficient. This will make the homes more comfortable and will also lower residents’ energy bills.
The co-operative is receiving $354,035 for this work.
Quotes:
“Queens Neighbourhood Co-operative Housing Ltd. (QNCH) is grateful for the continued partnerships with the provincial government and for the awarding of $354,035 from the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund. It is so beneficial to provide affordable housing to our community that is focusing on energy efficiency at a time when climate change is at the forefront. We are appreciative for the opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint while providing quality, environmentally friendly, accessible and affordable housing to our residents. Thank you on behalf of QNCH.”
— Patti Pike, Board President, Queens Neighborhood Co-operative Housing Ltd.
“Housing is becoming more affordable and efficient in Liverpool, thanks to the efforts of Queens Neighbourhood Co-operative Housing. With funding from the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund’s mitigation stream, we are proud to support the design and construction of 26 new energy-efficient affordable housing units for seniors. The organization’s commitment to achieving net-zero energy is commendable and serves as an inspiring example for communities across the province.”
— Juanita Spencer, CEO, Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities
Quick Facts:
- Queen’s Neighbourhood Co-operative Housing Ltd. provides affordable housing with a focus on homes for seniors where they can live as independently as possible
- the government created the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund in 2021 as part of the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act, its legislated commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, respond to climate change, transform how Nova Scotians produce and use energy, make homes and buildings energy efficient, and more
- the program provides grants to municipalities, non-profit and community organizations, post-secondary institutions and Mi’kmaw communities to help them respond to and prepare for climate change impacts, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Additional Resources:
More information on the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund is available at: https://nschallengefund.ca/
News releases about the fund and related projects: https://news.novascotia.ca/search/all?field_topics=228
Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/environmental%20goals%20and%20climate%20change%20reduction.pdf
Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-change-plan.pdf
Weathering What’s Ahead: Climate Change Risk and Nova Scotia’s Well-being: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/climate-impacts