Advocates say Nova Scotia budget neglects affordable housing crisis
The Nova Scotia budget presented this week neglects people struggling with affordability and those on the edge of experiencing homelessness, housing advocates say.
The government's budget, tabled Thursday, allocates $21.6 million to offer 1,000 more people rent subsidies, and $8.2 million to emergency and overnight shelters. But there is no new money for public housing.
Michael Kabalen, with Affordable Housing Nova Scotia, said in an interview Friday that rent supplements are a valuable "stopgap" but that the province is in dire need of new affordable housing options.
"It's needed," Kabalen said of the province's housing-related investments announced in the budget, "but it doesn't house people who are experiencing homelessness or those who need affordable housing today."
Kabalen said his group was aware of 884 people experiencing chronic homelessness in the Halifax area -- a figure he said has tripled since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hannah Wood, the Halifax chair of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN, said in an interview Friday that government support for public housing is "the biggest core need to be filled."
"So I think (government) missed a real opportunity to at least start the major investment that's needed to build back up our reserves of affordable housing," she said. "We haven't had a major investment in affordable housing construction since the early 1990s."
The province's capital plan released last week included $21 million toward repairs to its existing public housing, with no money earmarked to build more.
For the second consecutive year, the centrepiece of the Progressive Conservative's budget is health care. The $14.4-billion budget allocates $750 million more for health care compared with the prior fiscal year. Health-related investment is expected to reach $6.5 billion in 2023-24 -- accounting for about 45 per cent of total spending.
Kabalen said he understands the province is focused on improving the health-care system, but it should recognize that Nova Scotians are more likely to be in good health if they have housing.
"We know that the social determinants of health say that when you lose your housing, you're more likely to experience significant health deterioration," Kabalen said.
"We're focusing on building hospitals and incentivizing nurses, and that's very important. But the hope would be that we take a holistic approach to health care and also make investments in housing."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2023.
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.