**** MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS Release
Government to Create Over 1,100 New Affordable Housing Units
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The Province will spend nearly $35 million to support over 1,100 new affordable housing units in communities throughout Nova Scotia and make 425 new rent supplements available immediately.
“We want people to have a place to live that is safe and affordable,” said Premier Tim Houston. “We are moving forward with several initiatives that will see Nova Scotians have access to affordable housing. We know we need to do more, and we are.”
The government has identified new construction projects in several communities across the province. Specific project announcements will be made when details and agreements have been finalized with partners.
These initiatives are part of the recommendations by the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission to build new units to support community housing for lower income and vulnerable people.
Quotes:
“Nova Scotia needs more affordable housing units to address the housing crisis. We’re moving forward with projects that will see new affordable housing units in our province, along with rent supplements that will help people right now.”
– John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
“There is an urgent and ongoing need to increase affordable housing. Nova Scotia can solve its affordable housing crisis and we’re encouraged to see this work towards the recommendations of the Affordable Housing Commission. As rental rates continue to go up and vacancies decline in Cape Breton, creating enough safe, accessible, dignified affordable housing is more important than ever.”
– Erika Shea, CEO, New Dawn Enterprises Ltd.
“We are pleased with today’s announcement that the Province is committed to the growth of affordable housing. Housing co-operatives provide affordable, safe housing to low and moderate-income households and are a key part of the solution. CHF Canada looks forward to working with the Province of Nova Scotia to advance our shared goal of ensuring secure, affordable housing for all Nova Scotians.”
– Karen Brodeur, Regional Manager Atlantic for the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada and member of the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission
Quick Facts:
— with this announcement, the Province will add to the almost 4,000 portable rent supplements already given to Nova Scotians every month
— the average rent supplement is $327 per month
— Minister Lohr’s mandate letter includes a commitment to identify a full inventory of lands owned by the Province in the first three months, identify other areas that could be used for housing and work to implement the recommendations of the affordable housing commission
Additional Resources:
Mandate letter of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-MAH-EMO-MR.pdf
Report and recommendations of the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission: https://beta.novascotia.ca/documents/affordable-housing-report-spring-2021
The new rent supplements are available through the Canada-Nova Scotia Target Housing Benefit: https://housing.novascotia.ca/programs/canada-nova-scotia-targeted-housing-benefit
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Province Takes Action to Increase Housing, Protect Tenants
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Affordable, safe housing is crucial for a healthy society, quality of life, attracting new residents, social equity and growing the economy. Nova Scotia needs to build more housing and the Province is taking steps to get more homes built quickly.
“The housing crisis is real and Nova Scotians expect us to act,” said Premier Tim Houston. “We’ll do what needs to be done to make sure Nova Scotians can afford a place to call home. We will not wait.”
Creating more affordable housing will take time. In the coming weeks, the Province will introduce interim residential rent-cap legislation to protect tenants once the state of emergency ends. This will limit residential rent increases to 2 per cent per year and will be in effect until December 31, 2023, while more supply is built.
The government will spend nearly $35 million to support over 1,100 new affordable housing units across the province.
During this House session, the government will introduce legislation to create a planning task force to focus on faster planning and development approvals for large residential projects in HRM.
Employers say they’re having trouble finding enough skilled tradespeople. The Province will work to recruit and retain more apprentices, and review the training ratio for apprentices to create more opportunities for them and ease the skilled labour shortage. The government will also eliminate the provincial portion of personal income tax on the first $50,000 of annual income for construction trades workers under the age of 30.
Increasing student housing is another important way to help relieve the overall community housing shortage. The Province will build new residences at three NSCC campuses and create a province-wide student housing strategy.
The planning task force chair will be appointed by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and membership will come from the Province and the municipality. It will focus on analyzing and approving large residential developments in the Halifax area.
The Province is identifying a list of provincially-owned properties that can be used for housing. Staff will work with community groups, municipalities and others to get projects underway on these lands as quickly as possible.
The Province will also create a regional transportation group, including engineers and planners from the municipality and the Province, to create a master transportation plan for HRM. This group will review roads, ferries and public transit to ensure the transportation system is set up for rapid residential growth in the coming years.
Inclusionary zoning, a planning tool that requires or encourages affordable housing in a new development, will be added to the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter and the Municipal Government Act this House session.
The Province will also meet with municipalities across the province to discuss other possible measures that will support affordable housing, such as better regulation for short-term rental units and flexibility in taxation to encourage development.
Quotes:
“We can’t solve the affordable housing crisis without building more places for people to live. We will work with HRM to quickly approve new developments, so more people have a safe place to live in our province’s largest city.”
– John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
“We’ve heard from many Nova Scotians who are worried they won’t be able to afford their rent when the state of emergency ends. This interim rental cap will help keep those people housed while we work on long-term solutions.”
– Colton LeBlanc, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Internal Services
“This is great news for our students. We look forward to working with government to increase housing options near our campuses.”
– Don Bureaux, President, Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC)
Quick Facts:
— as of July 1, Nova Scotia’s population had increased from 942,970 to 992,055 over the last five years
— as of October 2020, there were 401,990 private households in Nova Scotia
— of the private households in Nova Scotia, 61,008 were private apartment units located in properties with three or more units, and 52,244 are located in HRM
— HRM’s vacancy rate is at 1.0 per cent; the average rental rate increased by 4.1 per cent in 2020
— Minister Lohr’s mandate letter includes a commitment to identify a full inventory of lands owned by the Province in the first three months, identify other areas that could be used for housing, and work to implement the recommendations of the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission
Additional Resources:
A Healthy Nova Scotia: Solutions for Housing and Homelessness: https://beta.novascotia.ca/documents/solutions-housing-and-homelessness
Mandate letter of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-MAH-EMO-MR.pdf
Report and recommendations of the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission: https://beta.novascotia.ca/documents/affordable-housing-report-spring-2021
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**** COMMUNITY Services Release
Homes and Supports for People Experiencing Homelessness
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Everyone deserves a home to call their own. Having a place to live brings with it stability, security and a sense of belonging. The Province is taking action to help those experiencing homelessness by investing $10.1 million over two years to provide wrap-around supports, shelter and culturally relevant housing across Nova Scotia.
“These investments will create greater stability in the Province’s shelter system and move us toward a more preventative approach, with a goal of more permanent housing and shelter for people across the province,” said Karla MacFarlane, Minister of Community Services. “We could not do any of this without our dedicated community partners – their work is often difficult, yet their commitment, kindness and tenacity has been unwavering.”
Investments over the next two years include:
— $4.2 million to various organizations across the province to maintain emergency shelter investments created during the COVID-19 pandemic
— $1.6 million for the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre for Diamond Bailey House, an Indigenous supportive housing initiative in Halifax. An additional $76,000 will be provided in the first year for start-up costs
— $1.3 million for emergency, short-term hotel stays and 24/7 wrap-around supports for individuals temporarily living in hotels
— $931,000 to support people transitioning out of correctional facilities. This includes funding for the John Howard Society and the Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia
— $713,000 annually to Shelter Nova Scotia to stabilize operations
— $630,000 to Adsum for Women and Children to launch a Diverting Families program in East Preston and to pilot the program for Nova Scotians living in Shelburne, Yarmouth and Digby. The Diverting Families program will work directly with families who are in crisis due to homelessness or impending homelessness.
Over the two years of these investments, the government will work closely with community partners and other levels of government to be responsive to the needs of vulnerable, homeless or precariously housed families and individuals. Future investments will be driven by the changing housing market, feedback from stakeholders and partners, and the needs of Nova Scotians across the province.
Quotes:
“The Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Society is excited to see the continued investments for the urban Indigenous community in regard to addressing the chronic homelessness issues facing our community. These investments will support several of the calls to action identified in the Truth and Reconciliation report. We look forward to working with the Province on addressing the chronic housing crisis facing us all.”
– Pam Glode-Desrouchers, Executive Director, Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Society
Quick Facts:
— according to the By-Name List, as of October 19, 2021, there were approximately 409 people in the Halifax Regional Municipality who are currently experiencing homelessness
— the provincial Integrated Action Plan to Address Homelessness (IAP) was launched in February 2020 in an effort to address some of these issues: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20200226001
— during the initial waves of COVID-19, temporary measures were implemented to address pandemic impacts on homelessness, including additional shelter beds
— in May 2021, investments were made to provide permanent supportive housing options that will offer wraparound services for homeless people with complex needs and significant barriers to securing permanent housing
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**** Service NS Release
Amendments Strengthen Tenant Protections and Provide Clarity for Landlords
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New rules to protect tenants against renovation evictions are included in amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act that will be introduced today, October 20.
“We need to do more to protect tenants,” said Colton LeBlanc, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Internal Services. “The changes we have proposed are part of our government’s larger effort to protect tenants and address the housing challenges in the province. Our work is just beginning, and we intend to bring more changes forward in the future.”
The proposed amendments address the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission’s recommendation to modernize provincial legislation to enhance renter protections against evictions due to renovations. The measures include:
— tenants will be given a minimum of three months notice before they can be evicted due to renovations
— mutual agreements to terminate a lease between tenants and landlords must be in writing
— if a tenant does not agree to terminate the tenancy, landlords must make an application under the Province’s residential tenancies program for an eviction order
— landlords must give the tenant between one and three months rent as compensation for the eviction
— landlord violations of the new protections can lead to additional compensation for tenants such as covering moving expenses or paying the difference between the tenant’s new unit and the rent paid for their former unit, for up to one year.
Other tenant protections in the bill include:
— rental increase notices can only contain one amount, regardless of whether the tenant decides to renew their tenancy as a month-to-month or yearly lease
— landlords cannot charge different rental rates for different lease terms
— a streamlined security deposit claim process so it is easier for tenants to get back their security deposits
— landlords must provide a 24-hour written notice to enter tenants’ units unless the tenant gives permission or there is an emergency.
Changes that will increase efficiency and provide clarity around processes for landlords include:
— flexible effective dates for rental increase notices that are no longer tied to an anniversary date; such notices are still limited to once a year
— when a tenant’s dispute of a rental eviction notice is dismissed, an eviction order can be issued.
Amendments to strengthen tenant protections against renovation evictions, will come into effect upon Royal Assent. Other amendments will take effect at a later date.
Quick Facts:
— the current ban on evictions due to renovations will end on February 1, 2022, or at the end of the provincial state of emergency, whichever is sooner
Additional Resources:
Residential tenancy guides and other information can be found at: https://beta.novascotia.ca/programs-and-services/residential-tenancies-program
