The province announcing a $25 million investment to help address the immediate recommendations made by the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission.
The commission’s final report contains 17 recommendations and 60 actions to address housing needs in the short term, and over the coming year
Government says $20 million will support new affordable housing units and $2 million will go towards repairs to public housing as well as building upgrades to reduce emissions.
The province says it will create an independent housing entity and look at modernizing laws and regulations.
“Affordable housing is a key strategic sector that drives economic growth, improves the health of Nova Scotians and moves us closer to social equity,” said Infrastructure and Housing Minister Geoff MacLellan in a news release. “This investment positions us to accomplish the commission’s short-term goals and I look forward to working with other levels of government, as well as the private and community housing sectors, to help more people have a safe, affordable place to call home.”
A fund will be established through $2.5 million, which will be co-created with community housing organizations, to help grow the community housing sector and to add more affordable units.
About $500, 000 will go toward municipal efforts to complete housing needs assessments.
The commission estimates the investment will support between 600 and 900 households in housing need over the coming years.
A call for proposals seeking innovative demonstration projects to create affordable housing units opens on Tuesday. The first new units are expected to be complete in about a year.
Th province says the Department of Infrastructure and Housing will work with other departments to update legislation and regulations, and all short-term recommendations made by the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission are now underway.
