Hundreds of people rallied in downtown Halifax on Sunday afternoon in support of several temporary shelters that the city plans to demolish. Halifax Mutual Aid, a local volunteer group, organized the rally at the city’s old central library on Spring Garden Road. That library has been shut down since 2014, and HMA built several of […]
Affordable housing
Posted inNews + Opinion
Pour one out for the Halifax renters left behind
Light a candle for the hundreds of Halifax renters who had to move in the last few years because their rent increased by 10 or 15 or 22 or 33 or 45 percent when it came time for lease renewal. The increase notice, delivered in writing, at least four months before the renewal date, fell […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
This 71-year-old is living and travelling around Nova Scotia in her van
From the outside it’s nothing more than a large white cargo van, but inside, 71-year-old Gail McGinnis has done her best to make it feel like home. In 2018, McGinnis sold her house and most of her belongings to try out living in her van. “I could have rented an apartment, but I didn’t want […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Airbnb regulation in Nova Scotia leaves any strict rules up to municipalities
This month the province of Nova Scotia released the Tourist Accommodations Registration Act—which will require anyone operating a short-term rental that isn’t their primary residence—to register with the province and pay a petite fee. The point of the regulations, says minster of business Geoff MacLellan, was to “level the playing field” for the tourism industry. […]
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Advocates says province’s affordable housing approach isn’t good enough
Advocates say the province is taking the wrong approach in its quest to cut homelessness and make housing more affordable. They suggest making sweeping changes to grow the non-profit housing sector. Over the next 10 years, Nova Scotia will put close to $400 million of federal and provincial dollars into affordable housing, following the tenets […]
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Hold up on federal funding leaves Tawaak Housing Association residents waiting on repairs
Tammie Beazley doesn’t like to be reminded that she’s living in a mold-infested, dilapidated three-bedroom apartment with her three children. “We just don’t think about it anymore. Where else can we go? We can’t afford anything else,” she says. Beazley lives in an urban Indigenous housing unit on the Halifax peninsula, managed by Tawaak Housing […]
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Dear Halifax developers: be more creative
Halifax Regional Council has recently approved a slew of developments within the downtown, south end and Quinpool areas of the city. All the developments are either high rises or exceed previously stated limitations on height in the city. The 8-storey development on Wellington Street exceeds the 6-story height limit despite the local outcry. The most […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
What is affordable housing, anyway?
From public housing to transitionary housing, shelters and housing supports or just the notion that spending more than 30 percent of your income is considered unaffordable, much of the inaction on affordable housing comes from the lack of a firm definition. At two information sessions at Halifax North Memorial Public library and Halifax Central Library […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Rental supplements not a fix-all solution to housing crisis
Housing Nova Scotia is on track to meeting its target of applying an additional 500 rental subsidies to reduce the housing wait list. Last year the provincial government committed to reducing the wait list by 30 percent—almost doubling the number of rent supplements over three years. Rental supplements exist as an alternative to for the […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Federal budget funds far off for Nova Scotia’s home-buyers
The federal housing budget announced solutions to Canada’s housing problems last week but experts say the plan isn’t likely to change the lives of Nova Scotians. “It’s only an incentive for those who were going to get a home anyway,” says Nova Scotia anti-poverty and housing advocate Jodi Brown. Michael Haan, Canada Research Chair in […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Council to consider cutting construction costs for affordable housing projects
Council approved deputy mayor Tony Mancini’s motion to incentivize non-profits working in affordable housing to actually break ground. His motion asking for a staff report on what waving municipal construction fees for non-profits passed this week with an amendment from councillor Lindell Smith making sure eligible non-profits actually work within the realm of affordable housing. […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
UPDATE: No affordable housing for new Cogswell district?
Halifax spokesperson Nick Ritcey responds to this article in an email to The Coast, saying the final decision on affordable housing has not yet been made: “The implication that affordable housing will not be included within the Cogswell district is incorrect. Decisions about affordable housing in this area have not been made. “In July, Regional […]