Affordable housing
Federal-provincial affordable housing funding announced in Cambridge
The federal and provincial governments will partner with the private sector in making significant investments in affordable housing across Nova Scotia.
An announcement was made Aug. 17 at an apartment complex in Cambridge developed by Parsons Investments that the federal government is investing an additional $ 53.4 million over the next two years to help Nova Scotians access affordable housing.
The provincial government has doubled funding levels under the Investment in Affordable Housing program to $21.4 million over two years.
Craig Parsons of Parsons Investments said they’ve been involved with building affordable housing projects for the various levels of government and resi- dents of Nova Scotia for several years. Programs have allowed the developer to take advantage of energy efficient construction techniques.
“Projects of this nature increase the housing standards while creating jobs in the local area,” he said.
Parsons said residents at the 16-unit complex in Cambridge are a testament to how affordable housing initiatives provide access to quality housing for fixed income families, seniors and people with disabilities.
Premier Stephen McNeil said the federal- provincial fund- ing partnership allows them to expand the myriad of housing options available to citizens. It also allows government to partner with private sector developers, helping to ensure the right mix of housing in a given community.
“In the announcement is the flexibility that I believe is required,” McNeil said. “Affordable housing means very different things to different people.”
This program will allow government to look at all the options to see what aspect of housing requires investment while ensuring that the appropriate level of investment is made.
“We see lots of challenging situations for Nova Scotians that, quite frankly, a safe place to live would eliminate a lot of the worry and burden on the adults in that family,” McNeil said.
He said the funding would allow the province to “aggressively attack” affordable housing waiting lists.
Kings-Hants MP and treasury board president Scott Brison said the announcement represents an important social and economic investment in Nova Scotia of an additional $ 75 million for affordable housing. He said that, as a family, you couldn’t have equality of opportunity for your children if you don’t have secure housing.
“We can create jobs and growth by investing in housing infrastructure today, more liveable communities and ultimately an economy wherein more people have a chance to succeed in the future,” Brison said. “That’s good economic policy and that’s good social policy.”
Community Services Minister and Minister responsible for Housing Nova Scotia Joanne Bernard said a national affordable housing strategy is on the way. It’s important to work with the private sector because government alone could not solve the issue of homelessness.
Kings-South MLA Keith Irving said two Valley companies that build affordable housing represented at the announcement, Parsons and Viking Ventures, would be partners at the table in making the most of the federal and provincial investment.