Dartmouth tenants concerned about future after affordable housing community is put up for sale
The potential sale of an entire affordable housing community in Dartmouth, N.S., has many of the residents concerned for their futures.
About 1,000 people live at Ocean Breeze Village, including Jordyn Johnson and her family.
Johnson currently pays $1,150 to rent a three-bedroom apartment – a price she says she'll struggle to find anywhere else.
"I work full-time as a line cook and it’s just like, there’s not enough affordable housing here to provide for everybody, especially for families of four and families of five,” Johnson says.
Residents found out on Twitter that the property owner, the Elia Corporation, has put the property up for sale.
Many are worried what new owners would do with the nearly 60 acre site.
Affordable housing advocates are calling for action.
“The city and the province must make sure these people are able to maintain their home and there isn’t a mass displacement of tenants,” says Lina Hamid, chair of Acorn Halifax.
Resident Clark MacIntosh has a suggestion.
"I mean, we’re surrounded by municipal and federal lands. It makes sense that some level of government buy this place and use this as more affordable housing. Actual affordable housing,” MacIntosh says.
Dartmouth North MLA Susan Leblanc says the province would be in a better position to do that had her party’s proposed legislation passed back in 2020 that would give the government first right of refusal on any property being sold in the province.
"It doesn’t mean the government has to keep it and run it, but they could then work with not-for-profits or co-ops and figure out how to keep the units affordable,” says Leblanc.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston wasn't making any commitments on Monday.
“We need more housing supply. We know that will come from a variety of sources so, you never say never,” Houston says.
A representative from Elia Corporation says they see this as a good time to create new residential housing on the site, adding since they are not developers, they decided to put the property up for sale.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
WATCH LIVE As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.