Let's Talk Affordable Housing!
The Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission is looking at the current state of affordable housing in Nova Scotia and has been mandated to identify sustainable, and actionable long-term solutions to increase the supply of, and access to affordable housing. To help inform its recommendations, the commission wants to hear from you.
Please use the various tools available on this site to share your ideas or send us a written submission at affordablehousingcommission@novascotia.ca.
The Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission is looking at the current state of affordable housing in Nova Scotia and has been mandated to identify sustainable, and actionable long-term solutions to increase the supply of, and access to affordable housing. To help inform its recommendations, the commission wants to hear from you.
Please use the various tools available on this site to share your ideas or send us a written submission at affordablehousingcommission@novascotia.ca.
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What is your solution to quickly create rental housing that low-to moderate-income Nova Scotians can afford?
about 1 year agoCLOSED: This brainstormer has concluded.Many inter-connected factors impact the supply for affordable housing, such as population growth, the availability of land, vacancy rate in the rental market, costs of construction, and attitudes (i.e. Not in My Back Yard). In recent years, Nova Scotia has enjoy strong economic and population growth, but residential construction has not kept pace with the demand for housing. Keeping these factors in mind, please share your ideas for solutions that could increase the range of affordable housing options for Nova Scotians with low-to moderate-incomes. Take a look at other ideas as well and indicate your support or provide constructive feedback.
Don't forget to check out some of our other idea boards if you haven't already.
- Defining Affordable Housing
- Innovative Housing Models
- Rental options for low-income older adults
- Sustainable non-profit sector
- Submit a recommendation
All comments will be monitored and can be removed if they are not relevant to the main theme, contain inappropriate language, or are not in compliance with the moderation policy.
Giraffeover 1 year agoConvert some offices. Maybe in the former Alliant building or in the Nova Center.
The Nova Center is not full of tenants.
0 comment1CSUMSabout 1 year agoUpdate high energy cost producing appliances and heating systems
Affordable housing is only affordable if the costs to run them is too. Often in some rentals, tenants need to pay heat, water, electricity and those bills can be quite high, making it more difficult for people to rent.
0 comment1orangeeyesover 1 year agoBetter city planning
New developments needed to have a broader scope in ensuring they have a variety of options - not just high end, not just affordable, but a mix. In addition, they should be required to ensure that they link communities through a variety of transportation (not built around needing a car). For example, side walks for pedestrian traffic need to be included in plans.
0 comment4Humble seniorover 1 year agoMore wheelchair accessible homes for disabled and seniors .
We still have seniors having to give up their family homes because some can not get to their second floor . These seniors are looking for homes that are manageable for their needs and affordable on their pensions without having to entry a retirement home. Maybe we can make it mandatory that half of the new projects be for seniors / disability and built with quality and easy access , no outdoor steps .
0 comment1HMuellerabout 1 year agoAirBnB Regulation in Rural Mi'kma'ki/NS
I live in Lunenburg county. Gratefully, I am a home owner, but I have many friends who rent. It is extremely difficult for many of them to find stable and affordable long-term rentals. Many of the buildings in our area are are either full-time AirBnB buildings or seasonal AirBnB rentals. This causes families to either have to move every six months, or get pushed out of the community altogether!
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Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkCLOSED: This brainstormer has concluded.
According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, a household is considered to be in core housing need if its housing falls below at least one of the adequacy, affordability or suitability, standards and it would have to spend 30% or more of its total before-tax income to pay the median rent of alternative local housing that meets all three housing standards: housing that doesn’t need any major repairs as reported by residents is adequate housing; suitable housing makes sure that there are enough bedrooms for the size and make-up of resident households; and housing that has shelter costs equal to or less than 30% of total before-tax household income is affordable housing.
Do you agree with this definition? If not, what other factors should be considered when assessing whether housing is affordable, suitable, and adequate for Nova Scotians? What level of affordability should be achieved for new construction projects to be eligible for public funding?
Don't forget to check out some of our other idea boards if you haven't already.
- Creating affordable housing
- Innovative Housing Models
- Rental options for low-income older adults
- Sustainable non-profit sector
- Submit a recommendation
All comments will be monitored and can be removed if they are not relevant to the main theme, contain inappropriate language, or are not in compliance with the moderation policy.
YHZover 1 year agoWe have individuals reling on the government that make $10k a year & less... Income per year 10K = 30% Rent = $250 per month
1 comment2Giraffeover 1 year agoLike the Canadian center for policy alternatives does- 30% of income.
3 comments4Ross.Grantover 1 year agoDefine low income first. This is different for each place. After that target housing to each income decile ensuring >30% after tax income.
0 comment1Madmaximillion56over 1 year agoSet income standards...
Set income standards based on cost of living so more people can qualify for affordable housing.
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How can we promote innovative housing models in Nova Scotia?
about 1 year agoCLOSED: This brainstormer has concluded.The Commission is interested in creative ideas to that can rapidly increase the supply of housing that meet the various needs of Nova Scotians. Do you have any creative ideas to make better use of existing homes, surplus schools or other buildings, or new construction methods, that can boost the provision of new rental housing? Are there innovative models that can achieve financial sustainability while ensuring that households in the lowest income deciles can afford the rent? Are you aware of innovative partnerships between the private sector and non-profit housing providers that has achieved positive social outcomes?
Don't forget to check out some of our other idea boards if you haven't already.
- Creating affordable housing
- Defining Affordable Housing
- Rental options for low-income older adults
- Sustainable non-profit sector
- Submit a recommendation
All comments will be monitored and can be removed if they are not relevant to the main theme, contain inappropriate language, or are not in compliance with the moderation policy.
AbundantCityabout 1 year agoExpand social housing run by non-government organizations
Communities know how to best meet their housing needs, echoing many of the comments here, simply funding those initiatives is a good start. Many models exist that take care of governance and financing, see below: https://futuredistributed.org/social-housing-denmark/
0 comment0Ross.Grantover 1 year agoCertain public buildings may be convertible. Existing public lands are likely the best option. Develop policy for surplus lands.
0 comment1Ross.Grantover 1 year agoWork with municipalities. They usually already know the housing needs. Fund the projects.
0 comment1LooktoFutureover 1 year agoFacilitate expansion of existing coops, i.e. land purchase/donation, creating accessible, affordable housing for aging coop members.
0 comment2Optimisticover 1 year agoSupport for cohousing models
I am only beginning to learn about cohousing, an innovative model of creating “intentional communities” where individuals own their unit or home but share land and other resources, such as a common gathering/eating area (in addition to kitchens in individual units), playgrounds, gardens, etc. The people within the community design its vision but often these communities are multi-generational and there’s a commitment to acting together as a community. This model, in addition to providing an affordable way of living (obviously dependent on the scope and scale of the community) also offers a remedy to social isolation. There are two cohousing developments currently underway in Nova Scotia in Bridgewater and Wolfville. I would love to see something similar in HRM and would be happy to be involved in helping to shape it. However because there is no grant or funding model to support start up costs or enable loans, it requires a significant financial investment and risk on the part of those starting it up, as well as a huge investment of time, making it almost out of reach. This model of housing has been highly successful in Scandinavian countries, the US and even other parts of Canada. There is a HUGE opportunity here!
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What rental housing options should be considered in your community to meet the needs low-income older adults?
about 1 year agoCLOSED: This brainstormer has concluded.There is a need to increase the supply of housing for seniors, as well as various options that consider the health needs and income of older adults. The type of affordable housing we build is important depending on these factors. While interesting affordable housing models are emerging in other jurisdictions, there is a need to increase awareness of evidence-based best practices and housing models for seniors in Nova Scotia.
Please share your ideas about how can all levels of government encourage, promote, or increase housing options that meet the needs of older adults and persons with disabilities in both urban and rural settings. How can all levels of government and housing developers encourage and promote inclusion of age-friendly principles into future residential development and urban planning policies? Are there any specific housing models or age-friendly communities in other parts of the world that we should examine further and adapt in Nova Scotia?
Don't forget to check out some of our other idea boards if you haven't already.
- Creating affordable housing
- Defining Affordable Housing
- Innovative Housing Models
- Sustainable non-profit sector
- Submit a recommendation
All comments will be monitored and can be removed if they are not relevant to the main theme, contain inappropriate language, or are not in compliance with the moderation policy.
Giraffeover 1 year agoConverting already existing buildings and forming co-operatives.
0 comment2DartmouthDudeover 1 year agoA New Crown Corporation for Assisted Living
Many seniors are looking at relocating to assisted living facilities as they age. Unfortunately, there’s a shortage of assisted living units in the province and demand is rapidly rising. The province should establish a new crown corporation to build and run assisted living facilities that can cater to the broad spectrum of seniors needs. Pricing could even be dynamic, with wealthier seniors paying a bit more, and those with lower incomes paying less. We can also subsidize the stays of residents who choose to sell or rent their long-time homes at below market rates, increasing affordable housing stock for younger Nova Scotians.
1 comment0SydneyMinesover 1 year agoAccessibility is a Must
Senior housing must be accessible and near city and town amenities. We need more single level housing with adequate space for both singles and couples. Turn around on existing spaces must also improve. It is terrible to see units vacant for months when there is a waiting list for homes.
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What is your solution to create a financially sustainable non-profit housing sector?
about 1 year agoCLOSED: This brainstormer has concluded.The community housing sector, which includes housing co-operatives and non-market housing providers, plays a critical role in providing deep affordable housing to address the needs of the most vulnerable Nova Scotians. In many jurisdictions, the non-profit sector has proven very effective at increasing and maintaining a healthy provision of affordable homes and keep them affordable to perpetuity. While our non-profit housing organizations have a long track-record of providing quality housing and support to their tenants, there has been very little in terms of new supply of non-market housing in recent years. Moreover, many of these organizations struggle to achieve the level of sustainability required to ensure long term affordability of their units while growing their portfolio.
If you are aware of best practices and evidence-based solutions that could help strengthen the capacity of our non-profit housing sector, please share your ideas below.
Don't forget to check out some of our other idea boards if you haven't already.
- Creating affordable housing
- Defining Affordable Housing
- Innovative Housing Models
- Rental options for low-income older adults
- Submit a recommendation
All comments will be monitored and can be removed if they are not relevant to the main theme, contain inappropriate language, or are not in compliance with the moderation policy.
Giraffeover 1 year agoSell land to them or give them land. Use Cogswell for that.
0 comment0Humble seniorover 1 year agoAll the housing units should be equipped with solar panels
I believe that all low income housing should have solar panels to create their own power to avoid the large bills from the power corp . Housing with children and seniors are always have to be warmer and the heating bills are very hard to pay for low income . With the money saved we would be able to put it towards the internet bills , which everyone needs these days .
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If you could submit only one recommendation on behalf of the commission, what would it be?
about 1 year agoCLOSED: This brainstormer has concluded.Based on your experience and knowledge, what is the most impactful action the commission should considered in its report to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to increase the supply of, and access to affordable housing? If you could only pick one recommendation, what would it be? Briefly explain why you think this is the most important action.
Don't forget to check out some of our other idea boards if you haven't already.
- Creating affordable housing
- Defining Affordable Housing
- Innovative Housing Models
- Rental options for low-income older adults
- Sustainable non-profit sector
All comments will be monitored and can be removed if they are not relevant to the main theme, contain inappropriate language, or are not in compliance with the moderation policy.
YHZover 1 year agoOur income doesn't match the cost of living in NS. We need a basic income to help bridge the gap to cover things like rent, not a supplemnt
1 comment2Giraffeover 1 year agoConvert the convention center meeting rooms for housing. The municipality and the province already own it.
0 comment0DartmouthDudeover 1 year agoMandating Enough New Units be Built Each Year to Account for Population Growth
"Sometimes the problems are complicated, and the answers are simple" – Dr. Seuss. There will be a housing crisis as long as we don't have enough dwellings for all the people living in the province. We can assess the number of newcomers from existing records (we already keep track of this), divide by average household size (which we also already keep track of), and write into law that we must build that many new units per year every year. If traditional developments don't provide that many, then the province steps in to fill the gap. We can also refine this to make sure new builds account for the provincial income distribution, and regional differences (again, data we already have). Incentives and grants are great, but if they don't have the desired results, we need a robust back-up.
0 comment0dglabout 1 year agoEncourage private supply and entry to market by effecting changes to the RTA to deal with bad tenants quickly and effectively.
Encourage private supply and entry
0 comment0AbundantCityabout 1 year agoBuild social housing
Either through agreements with community housing orgs or directly by housing authorities, build homes for people.
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COMMISSION REPORTS
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Commission Progress Report: January 2022 (PDF 254 KB)
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Commission Report 2021 (6.01 MB) (pdf)
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Commission Report 2021- TEXT ONLY VERSION.pdf (352 KB) (pdf)
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NSAHC Report Fact Sheet.pdf (284 KB) (pdf)
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NSAHC Report Frequently Asked Questions.pdf (161 KB) (pdf)
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What We Heard Report (3.01 MB) (pdf)
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Workshops & Focus Groups Findings (What We Heard) (2.27 MB) (pdf)
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Survey Findings (What We Heard) (983 KB) (pdf)
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Written Submissions & Online Findings (1.25 MB) (pdf)
Project Timeline
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Launch of the Commission
Let's Talk Affordable Housing! has finished this stageThe Affordable Housing Commission was launched by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing on November 25, 2020
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Stakeholder Engagement
Let's Talk Affordable Housing! has finished this stageThe commission launches a stakeholder engagement process to explore issues related to the supply of, and access to, affordable housing and solicit feedback on potential solutions.
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Review of stakeholder feedback
Let's Talk Affordable Housing! has finished this stageInput from the stakeholder engagement process is reviewed by the commission to support the development of recommendations.
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Input from Engagement Process Shared with Commission
Let's Talk Affordable Housing! has finished this stageThroughout the engagement process, staff will analyse the data and feedback received and report back to the Commission to help inform its recommendations.
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Submission of Recommendations
Let's Talk Affordable Housing! has finished this stageThe commission submits its recommendations to the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing
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What We Heard Report
Let's Talk Affordable Housing! has finished this stageA final report on the input gathered through the engagement process will be shared with the Minister and participants.
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Commission Progress Update
Let's Talk Affordable Housing! is currently at this stageThe Commission is committed to providing two updates on government's response to its recommendations, in six and twelve months. The first update will be provided in November 2021.
Follow Project
Resources
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Commission Meeting Minutes
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Regional Workshop Documents
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NSAHC Workshops Discussion Guide 2021.pdf (1.76 MB) (pdf)
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Discussion Guide Appendix (216 KB) (pdf)
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Agenda_NSAHC_RegionalWorkshop_March30_1pm.pdf (50.7 KB) (pdf)
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Agenda_NSAHC_RegionalWorkshop_April1_10am.pdf (51.3 KB) (pdf)
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Agenda_NSAHC_RegionalWorkshop_April1_1pm.pdf (50.9 KB) (pdf)
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Agenda_NSAHC_RegionalWorkshop_April6_1pm.pdf (51.1 KB) (pdf)
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Agenda_NSAHC_RegionalWorkshop_April6_6pm.pdf (51 KB) (pdf)
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Agenda_NSAHC_RegionalWorkshop_April7_10am.pdf (51.2 KB) (pdf)
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Agenda_NSAHC_RegionalWorkshop_April7_6pm.pdf (51.4 KB) (pdf)
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Agenda_NSAHC_RegionalWorkshop_April9_10am.pdf (51.2 KB) (pdf)
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Agenda_NSAHC Focus Group_April15_1pm.pdf (50.8 KB) (pdf)
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Agenda_NSAHC_April19_10am.pdf (51.1 KB) (pdf)
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Agenda_NSAHC_April19_1pm.pdf (51.5 KB) (pdf)
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Agenda_NSAHC_April20_1pm.pdf (51.1 KB) (pdf)
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Agenda_NSAHC_April21_10am.pdf (51 KB) (pdf)
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Reports & Research
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Innovation In Rental Housing (Dr. Ren Thomas) (5.51 MB) (pdf)
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Barriers to housing for LGBT seniors in Canada
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Housing Needs Assessment HRM Report 2015 (3.51 MB) (pdf)
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Building_safe_and_affordable_housing_-_Yarmouth County 2018.pdf (3.78 MB) (pdf)
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WWH_Housing Lunenburg (923 KB) (pdf)
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What is Affordable Housing- Housing Models-SCHC (665 KB) (pdf)
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Housing Needs Assessment South Shore 2016 (23.4 MB) (pdf)
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Lunenburg-Queens Short Term Rentals Report (755 KB) (pdf)
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What is Affordable Housing? Housing Models Shelburne (665 KB) (pdf)
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HPC Business Transformation Case Studies 2014 (8.26 MB) (pdf)
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HPC Canadian Mixed Model Development Research 2020 (1.79 MB) (pdf)
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HPC Skillsets and Core Competencies to Facilitate Business Transformation Research Bulletin (985 KB) (pdf)
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Changing the Housing Story Summary (1.04 MB) (pdf)
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Subcommittees & Work Groups
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Rental Housing Challenges Responses (Pomeroy, MacLennan, 2019) (1.09 MB) (pdf)
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Promising Practices: Evolution and Innovation in BC and QC (806 KB) (pdf)
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Envisioning a strengthened social housing sector 2018 (921 KB) (pdf)
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NSAHC Guidelines for Written Submissions (83.3 KB) (pdf)