An aerial view of Barrington harbour. Photo: Municipality of the District of Barrington.

Residents of Barrington, Nova Scotia will soon have access to more affordable housing, thanks to a recent investment by the Houston Government. Shelburne MLA Nolan Young made the announcement on Monday, revealing that the investment will total $900,000 and result in the creation of 24 affordable housing units.

The units will be offered at up to 80 per cent of the local market rate, making them accessible to individuals and families who may struggle to afford housing in the area. Additionally, $350,000 will be invested in creating five affordable housing units in Shelburne.

“This will have a profound impact on families in our region,” MLA Nolan Young said. “Our government is moving to provide assistance to those in our community who need it most. We are committed to strengthening our communities through projects like this. It’s investments like these that assist struggling families to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads.”

The investment in Barrington is part of a larger announcement made on Friday by the province and Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC). Together, they invested $16.6 million in 10 affordable housing projects across the province, which will create 236 new rental units. Over half of these units will be offered at rents at or below 80 per cent of the local market rent.

Barrington Warden Eddie Nickerson says his community welcomes the news and anything that helps the housing crisis, “There is a big need for projects like this not just here but all around the province,” said Nickerson. “It’s gotten to the point where I as a councilor get lots of calls from residents asking if I know of any apartments for rent and the municipal offices get lots of calls like that too,”.

While the investment in affordable housing is a step in the right direction, many community members are still calling for further action to address the housing crisis in the area. The Nova Scotia government has acknowledged that there is still much work to be done in this area and has committed to continuing to work towards solutions.