**** CNS Media Release
Tiny Home Community for People Experiencing Homelessness / More Funding for Supportive Housing, Shelter Options
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The government and private sector are coming together to build a tiny home community, the first of its kind in Nova Scotia, to help people experiencing homelessness in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM).
This pilot community will have 52 units, providing housing for about 62 people. The project is a collaboration between the provincial and municipal governments and Nova Scotian companies The Shaw Group and Dexter Construction, part of the Municipal Group. The community will be built on surplus land belonging to HRM in Lower Sackville.
“It’s wonderful to see leadership from the private sector come together with government to help vulnerable Nova Scotians,” said Trevor Boudreau, Minister of Community Services. “This is thanks to the incredible partnership of The Shaw Group and the Municipal Group. They exemplify the compassion and community spirit we need in the midst of the homelessness crisis we’re facing. We also continue to work with HRM and collaborate to address this challenge.”
The Province will invest $9.4 million in construction and $935,000 per year in annual operating costs.
HRM is providing the land at no cost and will also provide custodial support such as snow clearing and general property maintenance.
Dexter Construction will undertake site services and land preparation work using its local workforce and equipment.
The units will be built by Prestige Homes, part of The Shaw Group of companies. Prestige Homes specializes in modular housing units and is committed to using Atlantic Canadian and Nova Scotian products in their construction. Rent will be geared to income, which means that rent will be no more than 30 per cent of a person’s income. Community residents will be selected from the HRM By Name List and will receive the wraparound support they need to help them connect to employment and more permanent housing.
It is anticipated that 30 units will be complete by next spring, and people will be in them next summer. The community will be complete by next fall. If successful, similar communities may be created in other areas of HRM and across the province.
Quotes:
“No one should be without a home, and this project is an incredible example of collaboration as we continue to work together to come up with bold and unique solutions to address the housing crisis. Our focus is ensuring as many people as possible have a safe and affordable place to call home, and this community will ensure some of our most vulnerable are given that opportunity.”
– John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
“We have seen this concept work in other jurisdictions, providing a simple home for people who are unhoused, so we are pleased to see the investment by the Province married with private sector building expertise, and a municipal site. Working together, we will help more people move to better circumstances.”
– Mike Savage, Mayor, Halifax Regional Municipality
“The Shaw Group is delighted to be part of this project. We recognize the need to help those who are experiencing homelessness in Halifax and believe that by working collaboratively with government we can find solutions.”
– Kevin Neatt, Vice-President, Planning and Development, The Shaw Group
“Dexter Construction, part of the Municipal Group, is honoured to be an early contributor to this important project, helping other Nova Scotians to find safe and secure housing. Our teams of employees take pride in helping to build the community in which we live and work.”
– Ken MacLean, Vice-President, Dexter Construction
Quick Facts:
— a not-for-profit entity will be established to own and oversee the community
— this entity will be operated by a board of management that will initially have representatives from the provincial government, HRM, the private sector and a not-for-profit agency; the board will be responsible for managing the site development and for ongoing site management
–10 units will be double occupancy
— a community building will be constructed on-site to provide office and programming space for service providers and residents
Additional Resources:
Rendering of the tiny home community: https://news.novascotia.ca/pho
Mandate letter of the Minister of Community Services: https://novascotia.ca/exec_cou
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More Funding for Supportive Housing, Shelter Options
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More vulnerable Nova Scotians will benefit from added support and shelter options this winter.
The Province is providing more funding to create new winter shelters, enhance shelter diversion supports and establish a formalized emergency weather response for vulnerable people. It is also investing in operational supports and providing land in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) to establish an innovative shelter solution.
“We know that people experiencing homelessness deserve a dignified place to shelter in the colder months,” said Trevor Boudreau, Minister of Community Services. “We’re providing funding for emergency supports across the province to ensure that people have warm places to stay.”
In partnership with service providers and municipalities across Nova Scotia, the Province will invest $7.5 million in shelters produced by Pallet, a shelter provider. It will purchase 200 units to provide temporary housing across Nova Scotia, including 100 to be located in HRM. The funding will also purchase bed frames, mattresses and desks, and support operations.
Service providers and municipalities will be consulted on placing the shelters, potentially on provincial, municipal and service provider-owned land.
Pallet is a North American leader in rapid-response shelter villages designed by people with lived experience. These communities will include single occupancy rooms, plus bathroom and laundry units and on-site supports by local service providers.
Communities with 10 or more rooms will have a community room where residents can gather and access services.
The Province will provide two parcels of land in HRM to host the Pallet shelter villages and HRM is providing land, land servicing and preparation support, as well as operational oversight of the 100 units.
With the approach of the winter season, the Province is providing $1.8 million for an additional three overnight shelters – in Amherst, Bridgewater and HRM. The location for the HRM shelter will be finalized and released soon.
The Province is also expanding diversion and eviction prevention support funding by $570,000 to 11 organizations – eight in rural Nova Scotia and three in HRM – to ensure service providers have more options for Nova Scotians in need.
With more extreme weather events, the Province is dedicating $250,000 to support the co-ordination of emergency weather responses across the province for people experiencing homelessness.
The Province will also provide HRM with up to $180,000 in funding this winter to support a designated campground for RV and trailer hook-up.
Quotes:
“The Town of Kentville sees the benefit of using a dignified approach in response to the housing and homelessness crisis. Supporting the provincial government’s investment in the Pallet villages project is one avenue to do so; this is an exceptional partnership opportunity for Kentville to showcase the compassion we hold for all community members.”
– Rachel Bedingfield, interim Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Kentville
“This is a significant and welcome initiative by the Province, working with HRM and the community sector. These investments will make an appreciable improvement in the living conditions for people who are unhoused in our community.”
– Mike Savage, Mayor, Halifax Regional Municipality
“Pallet believes housing is a basic human right that all people are entitled to. We’re excited to work together with innovative leadership who are creating plans to end the crisis of unsheltered homelessness.”
– Amy King, founder and CEO, Pallet
“CBCHA has seen a dramatic increase in the number of homeless individuals utilizing the supports and services we offer in CBRM. With that, we have also witnessed a steep rise in the number of unsheltered individuals living rough, outside and in unsafe conditions. This situation requires immediate attention, and we are pleased that the provincial government is taking progressive and timely steps to address this, especially with colder weather on its way. CBCHA is grateful to partner with the provincial government as we work collectively to bring an end to homelessness in our communities.”
– Fred Deveaux, Executive Director, Cape Breton Community Housing Association
Quick Facts:
— the Province previously announced $750,000 in support of HRM’s drop-in centre
— as affordable and supportive housing options continue to grow, Pallet shelters can be repurposed for emergency events, including emergency weather event responses
Additional Resources:
Pallet shelters: https://palletshelter.com/
News release – Tiny Home Community for People Experiencing Homelessness: https://novascotia.ca/news/rel
Mandate letter of the Minister of Community Services: https://novascotia.ca/exec_cou
