Premier Tim Houston and John Lohr, Housing Minister, speak at a media conference in September, 2022.
Nova Scotia’s commitment to addressing housing shortages has taken a significant stride with the announcement of 25 new public housing units across the province. These units, funded through relief support allocated after last summer’s wildfires, mark the largest investment in public housing in Nova Scotia in over a generation.
The initiative, unveiled jointly by Nova Scotia Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing John Lohr and Halifax MP Andy Fillmore, aims to alleviate housing pressure and reduce waitlists. “Our government is investing and acting quickly to reduce the public housing waitlist in order to provide homes for as many people as possible,” emphasized Lohr during a press conference.
Utilizing $8.1 million from the province’s wildfire housing support program, Kent Homes will construct single and multi-unit modular homes capable of accommodating up to 88 individuals. These homes are slated to be installed by the end of March in various locations across Nova Scotia, including Amherst, Antigonish, Barrington, Glace Bay, Port Hawkesbury, Ingonish, Westville, Clyde River, and Springhill.
The selected sites, either provincially owned land or private mobile home parks owned by Killam Properties and TBO Developments, have been strategically chosen to maximize accessibility and meet local housing needs.
New details on two HRM housing projects
Additionally, details regarding public housing developments in Halifax Regional Municipality were unveiled during the announcement.
Approximately 150 units are slated for construction at sites on Gottingen Street in Halifax and Old Beaver Bank Road in Lower Sackville.
The building in Halifax will be six stories and will be constructed at 2313 Gottingen Street at Ahern Manor and Uniacke Square.
The Sackville project will see two new buildings built at Sackville Manor, 67 Old Beaver Bank Rd., one five storeys
and the other two.
Further information regarding additional locations will be disclosed in due course, assured Lohr.
Upon completion in 2027-2028, the project is expected to provide housing for more than 600 people.
This initiative comes as the public housing waitlist in the province stood at 7,683 households as of December 1st, underscoring the pressing need for such interventions.
