Home-Sharing Program Expands

Nova Scotians in search of an affordable space to rent now have more options and support.

The Province’s partnership with online home-sharing platform Happipad – launched in in the spring to help people displaced by wildfires – is now available to people across the province. The government is investing $1.3 million over two years in the expansion.

“We all have a role to play as we work together to overcome this housing crisis, and today’s announcement is a call to action to all Nova Scotians who may have extra space in their homes to consider hosting a person or family in their home,” said Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr. “We know we have 130,000 vacant bedrooms in Nova Scotia, and through this expanded program, more people like students, healthcare workers, tradespersons and any others who may need a safe, affordable and comfortable short-term accommodation could be matched with a room. This partnership truly encompasses the hospitable nature of all Nova Scotians.”

Happipad does thorough background checks, matches renters with hosts, collects and distributes the rent, and provides dispute resolution support in case of host or renter concerns. Staff in Nova Scotia will provide user support.

Rents through Happipad are typically at rates below those of other rentals. Happipad users also report meaningful social connections, with options to share meals and other household activities.

People seeking a room and potential hosts can access the new service at: https://happipad.com/nova-scotia/

Quotes:

“At Happipad, we are thrilled to extend our full program across Nova Scotia with support from the Province. We will be proudly offering our services free of charge to users, aiming to help break down barriers to affordable housing. With the housing crisis we see across the province, we want to help bring new purpose to empty bedrooms so they can be available to vetted renters who want to call Nova Scotia home. Whether it’s older adults seeking a housing companion to share their home with or newcomers and students in search of safe and affordable accommodations, Happipad embraces people of all ages. But, beyond housing, we believe in fostering safe, inclusive, and welcoming communities through meaningful connections.”

– Cailin Libby, CEO, Happipad

“I am very blessed to own a large home with extra space, and I am more than happy to do my part in a housing crisis to help someone in need of a safe, affordable and comfortable space to live. I’ve had a very positive experience as a host with Happipad as they provide excellent support and do a lot of the work with collecting rent and background checks. I encourage anyone who is thinking of doing this to give it a try. It has been a very beneficial endeavour for me and my family.”

– Jon Hall, Happipad host in Windsor

“We are pleased to see the announcement of this new housing program, which seeks to connect students with housing options in their communities while strengthening informational outreach to students seeking off-campus accommodations. Housing is a key predictor of educational access and student success, and this announcement reinforces the importance of collaboration and information-sharing within post-secondary communities to solve student housing challenges. We look forward to continued collaborations to ensure students and graduates have accessible, affordable housing options as well as adequate housing resources and supports as they seek to live, work and settle in the province.”

– Matthew Doyle, Chair, Students Nova Scotia

“Our staff provide a wide range of home-care and community support services across the province. Lack of available accommodations has made recruitment in some areas difficult. These are often the same areas where supports are needed most. This home-sharing service opens up opportunities for staff and, ultimately, makes our services available to more people in need of care.

• Jeff Densmore, Regional Executive Director, VON Canada – Nova Scotia

Quick Facts:

• Happipad, a Canadian non-profit organization, started with help from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation and offers services in every province
• the $1.3-million provincial investment is shared equally between Advanced Education, Seniors and Long-Term Care and Municipal Affairs and Housing
• there are an estimated 130,000 empty bedrooms across the province
• all homeowners and renters will be subject to background checks
• the Residential Tenancies Act applies to all rentals

Additional Resources:

Promotional video for Happipad in Nova Scotia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZeKY_R834o

News release – Help Finding Housing for People Displaced by Wildfires: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230616009