Friday, April 18, 2025
The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia announced $83 million to create 222 new public housing units, including 80 that will be fully barrier-free. The new housing will serve 522 families, individuals and low-income seniors in rural and urban communities across Nova Scotia.
The federal government is contributing $24.4 million and the province $58.8 million in funding.
“We know many Nova Scotians are struggling to find safe and affordable housing. Increasing the supply of all types of housing is an important part of the solution,” said Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr. “Our government is investing, innovating and working to increase supply so more Nova Scotians can have a safe place to call home. With today’s announcement, hundreds more Nova Scotians will be given that opportunity.”
The units will be built on provincially owned land close to existing public housing developments in:
- Bridgewater
- Kentville
- Truro
- Cape Breton (multiple locations)
- Halifax Regional Municipality (multiple locations).
“These 222 new public housing units will serve both the people of Halifax and Nova Scotians provincewide. Access to affordable housing is so important, and this partnership brings us closer to that goal. I am pleased to see that together with the Province, we’re making progress to find each Canadian a safe and affordable place to call home,” said Andy Fillmore, MP for Halifax.
The Province also announced plans for pilot programs aimed at creating more options and opportunities to add housing to existing properties, create mixed-income communities, and transfer some existing public housing units to community-based housing organizations and/or resident ownership.
“The growing need for deeply affordable and safe housing in Nova Scotia requires partners across sectors – non-profit, private and all orders of government – to collaborate and keep community need at its core. This historic investment by the Province in public housing is a welcome and critical step in the right direction,” said Sara Napier, president and CEO, United Way Halifax.
Featured image: Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr, left, and Halifax MP Andy Fillmore, announced $83 million to create 222 new public housing units, during a news conference September 27, 2023. (CNS)
