Opposition to focus on N.S. housing solutions as fall House session begins

Dozens of people are living out of tents two streets over from Province House in downtown Halifax. 

The people who have been calling Grand Parade home are among the hundreds of Nova Scotians who are homeless. 

That’s why when Nova Scotia’s elected representatives take their seats for the fall session of the legislature on Thursday, the opposition has its sights set on housing solutions.

“The housing crisis is affecting everybody from seniors whose fixed income is being swallowed up each month by housing costs to young families and working professionals who are giving up their dream of owning their own home,” Zach Churchill, Liberal leader and leader of the official opposition, said at Province House on Wednesday. 

Churchill said the Houston government has been focused on making improvements to the health-care system – which is needed – but hasn’t put as much effort into addressing the housing crisis. 

“Municipalities and the federal government are essential to finding answers, but the province must take the lead role on this housing crisis and they have to do it now,” Churchill said. 

Churchill said the Liberals will be calling on the Houston government to bring forward short- and long-term solutions. 

“Municipalities and the federal government are essential to finding answers, but the province must take the lead role on this housing crisis and they have to do it now.”

– Liberal Leader Zach Churchill

The hundreds of people sleeping rough are a top priority for the Liberal government as winter nears. 

Churchill suggested modular homes paid for by the provincial government should be explored.

“We have incredible opportunities, I think, with modular homes. To bring them in, they can be put up quickly, they can be put up in weeks. We’ve seen that in Tantallon. We’ve seen that in Shelburne,” he said. 

“That’s what needs to happen right now for folks who are on the street.” 

But Churchill doesn’t just want modular homes for emergency shelters. He said they are also a great option for affordable housing.

“We’ve got a number of companies who are building these modulars … but there are rules in place preventing them from actually putting these products to market when we need them most.” 

The Liberal party will look to have the Houston government fix restrictive zoning laws that slow down development and prevent affordable housing from coming to market, as well as look at reducing building costs and training more skilled workers as fast as possible. 

NDP Leader Claudia Chender said housing will also be at the top of the list for her caucus. 

“We know that people continue to be concerned about health care. We continue to be concerned about the failure to meet any of the benchmarks that were put forward by the government to fix health care,” Chender said.

“But right now, what we’re hearing about is just how challenging this cost-of-living crisis is and we’re finding that in housing.” 

Chender emphasized the need for short-term housing solutions for those who currently are homeless.

“From our perspective, anything is welcome, so whatever works. I don’t think it’s going to be a one-size-fits-all,” Chender said, noting there are unoccupied modulars that were brought in for victims of the wildfires, vacant buildings and hotels that could be explored as an option. 

Chender said the NDP will bring forward legislation about enforcing the Residential Tenancies Act.

“This is something that investment property owners and tenants’ rights associations and everyone in between have been calling for because our residential tenancies system is quite frankly broken,” she said. 

“We need more protections for renters and that’s where it begins.” 

Chender said her caucus will also bring forward proposals, such as keeping the heating assistance rebate program the same amount as last year or increasing it to deal with the cost of inflation, as well as a seniors’ income supplement. 

“We have a slate of legislative proposals. We also have a slate of common-sense suggestions that we have been putting forward to the government for a long time now and time is of the essence,” Chender said. 

Independent MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin said she will be tabling 12 bills based on what she’s seeing around Cumberland County. 

“And that’s really around affordability, especially for our seniors and low-income families, not being able to afford groceries and rent and heat,” Smith-McCrossin said.

She said she will also focus on the lack of available housing and health-care issues, adding she has been collaborating with the Liberals and NDP.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Houston government announced significant investments in shelters and supportive housing. 

The province is spending $9.4 million to build a tiny home community of 52 units, on land provided by Halifax Regional Municipality at no cost, in Lower Sackville. 

It’s anticipated that 30 units will be complete by next spring and people will be in them next summer. The pilot project is expected to be complete by next fall and cost the province $935,000 in annual operating costs. 

“If successful, similar communities may be created in other areas of HRM and across the province,” the provincial government said in a news release. 

Also Wednesday, the Houston government announced it will spend $7.5 million to purchase 200 shelters for people experiencing homelessness, as well as bed frames, mattresses, desks and support operations. Of those shelters, 100 will be placed in HRM. 

The provincial government also invested money to see the addition of overnight shelters in Amherst, Bridgewater and HRM. It also increased its financial support for organizations that deal with eviction prevention and provide emergency weather responses for people experiencing homelessness.