News release

More Funding for Affordable Housing, Modular Homes

Municipal Affairs and Housing

The Province is investing an additional $19.5 million to preserve, modernize and improve existing affordable housing, grow the community housing sector and add modular housing.

“To tackle this housing crisis, growing our community housing sector will be key to increasing housing supply. We also need to protect and preserve the affordable housing units we currently have in this province,” said Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr. “This investment will help preserve existing homes and strengthen organizations for future growth.”

To help preserve and maintain existing affordable housing, the Province is allocating $12.5 million through the Community Housing Infrastructure and Repair Program to help co-operative housing groups and non-profit housing providers complete necessary capital repairs, including accessibility, health and safety improvements. This includes $7.5 million in forgivable loans to the Housing Trust of Nova Scotia to upgrade 150 units in Halifax Regional Municipality.

The government is also investing an additional $2.5 million in the Community Housing Growth Fund to support non-profits and co-ops with capacity building and the design and planning of new affordable housing development projects.

Another $2.5 million will be invested in the Rental Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program, which assists landlords in upgrading the condition of existing affordable units while maintaining low-end of market rents for tenants.

The government has already budgeted more than $12.4 million for these three programs, bringing the total investment this year to more than $29.9 million.

Also, $2 million is allocated for modular housing to support people who may be experiencing homelessness or at risk of being homeless. The modular units will be located in areas where there is available land and urgent need.

Quotes:

“We know people are struggling right now, and this investment of $2 million will help provide safe, temporary homes for those experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. Modular housing helps deliver homes more quickly to those in need, reduces the cost of independent builds, and is an innovative solution to increasing affordable housing options in our province.”

– Karla MacFarlane, Minister of Community Services

“This provincial investment will support Housing Trust's residents and improve the condition of our buildings so we can keep our rents affordable for a long time. This announcement, in combination with the Community Housing Acquisition Program, provide non-profit housing providers like the Housing Trust the assistance we need to play a greater role in creating more affordable housing options for hard working families and seniors across the province.”

– Ross Cantwell, President, Housing Trust of Nova Scotia

Quick Facts:

  • in July, the Housing Trust of Nova Scotia acquired nearly 300 affordable rental units in Halifax Regional Municipality through the Community Housing Acquisition Program
  • the Province invested $2.5 million in 2021-22 to create the new Community Housing Growth Fund to help co-ops and non-profits build capacity and expand non-market housing supply

Additional Resources:

Community Housing Growth Fund: https://centre.support/community-housing-growth-fund/

Housing programs for landlords: https://housing.novascotia.ca/programs/housing-programs-landlords

Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission report – Charting a new course for affordable housing in Nova Scotia: https://beta.novascotia.ca/documents/affordable-housing-report-spring-2021

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