60 leases signed through the two-year, $1.3 million Nova Scotia home-sharing contract

The Nova Scotia government’s affordable housing program, which cost taxpayers $1.35 million over two years, has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that only 60 tenants signed leases through the initiative. The program, announced in August 2023, aimed to help people find affordable housing by partnering with the non-profit organization Happipad, which operates an online home-sharing platform.

Happipad was responsible for conducting background checks, matching renters with homes, and collecting rent on behalf of landlords. The government’s funding allowed the platform to waive user fees and covered the costs of setting up the website and marketing. However, the program ended up costing more than $22,000 per lease, leading to criticism that it failed to effectively address the affordable housing crisis in Nova Scotia.

Opposition NDP Leader Claudia Chender described the Happipad deal as a “gimmick” rather than a real solution to rising rents and a lack of affordable housing. The government has been accused of ignoring the challenges faced by Nova Scotians in affording their homes.

The Department of Growth and Development did not directly address questions about the program’s results but confirmed that the contract with Happipad has come to an end. Despite the criticisms, Happipad reported that 1,853 renters and approximately 956 hosts signed up on the platform over two years, with 400 people potentially signing leases after connecting through the platform.

When the program was launched, the government highlighted the 130,000 vacant bedrooms in the province, emphasizing the need for all Nova Scotians to play a role in addressing the housing crisis. Former provincial housing minister John Lohr called on residents with extra space in their homes to step up and help alleviate the shortage of affordable housing.

The Nova Scotia government’s affordable housing program may have fallen short of expectations, but it has brought attention to the pressing issue of housing affordability in the province. Moving forward, there is a need for more comprehensive and sustainable solutions to ensure that all residents have access to safe and affordable housing.