Article contentA spokeswoman for the provincial Growth and Development Department said the housing department has not changed but has become part of Growth and Development under the direction of Minister Colton LeBlanc.Article content“Just today we announced new housing projects in Guysborough supporting health-care workers and others seeking affordable homes,” Chrissy Matheson said in an email.Article content“In the first 18 months of our five-year housing plan, we’ve exceeded targets – over 51,000 units committed, surpassing 125 per cent of our goal,” she said. Article content“Housing starts are up 38 per cent year over year, with vacancy rates rising above two per cent for the first time in years, indicating a stabilizing market.”Article contentMatheson said community housing investments have surged tenfold, with $120 million invested over two years to preserve or create 1,400 affordable units province-wide. Article contentArticle content“Programs like CHAP have loaned over $46 million to purchase 647 affordable units,” she said. “The newly launched Community Housing Capital Fund offers grants for down payments, while the Infrastructure and Repair Program has funded repairs for over 600 units since 2023.Article content“Targeted funding includes $3.5 million to Tawaak Housing (for the Indigenous community) and $8.5 million to Preston Area Housing, an African Nova Scotian community.”Article content Premier Tim Houston speaks to reporters at Province House in Halifax on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Photo by Francis Campbell /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentSince 2022, over $100 million has been spent to build 787 new affordable units, with 558 truly affordable, in partnership with the community housing sector, Matheson said.Article contentThe Land for Housing Program has approved over 1,200 units, and the Housing Repair and Adaptation Program supported 2,687 low-income households this year, helping with repairs and accessibility upgrades.Article contentAdditional progress has been made in upgrading 335 public affordable units en route to the goal of upgrading 900 by 2028, Matheson pointed out, along with 5,324 Nova Scotians being helped through home repair programs, 12,000 households supported with rent supplements and 457 secondary/backyard units being built.Article contentArticle content“Our work continues with full commitment to expanding and preserving affordable housing across Nova Scotia,” Matheson said.Article contentChender said housing affects everyone in the province from homeowners and renters to developers, non-market housing providers, families, seniors and students.Article content“Considering that whether you rent or pay a mortgage, housing is your biggest expense every month, you’d think that the Houston government would see its importance and give it the attention it deserves,” she said.Article content“The housing crisis is not a part-time job or a special project within a broader ministry. Nova Scotia needs to have someone dedicated to the issue. The evidence of what happens when we don’t is right in front of us in this (Statistics Canada) report.Article content“Taking the job away doesn’t take the issue away.”Article contentChender said there are things that the provincial government can do immediately to help reduce costs.
Nova Scotia government, NDP exchange testy volleys on housing, cost of living
