The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
New housing facilities announced
Three projects were approved this week for the Halifax area that will help alleviate the city's housing crisis under the federal government's Rapid Housing Intiative, with a tight one-year deadline for completion.
The non-profit organizations whose proposals were accepted with the city's recommendation include Souls Harbour Rescue Mission's 12-unit facility on the Eastern Shore, Akoma Holdings' eightunit building in Dartmouth at Main Street and Cherry Brook Road, and an Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia-built property in a location that has yet to be announced.
Funded at $2.9 million, with assistance from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation toward paying off the mortgage on the property, the Souls Harbour development will be next to its new shelter for women and children which opens this fall. It is described by its founder Michelle Porter as a good location on a bus route with schools and playgrounds nearby.
“If you're a low-income family, it's a beautiful place to live. It is permanent housing, but it's also supportive housing,” explained Porter, who said that residents will be able to share in the services provided by its neighbouring facility.
These include access to classes, support and assistance with practical needs, and referrals to resources that will help residents obtain employment. “We want to help with what can we do to help you function better, and maybe even get your own house,” said Porter.
The biggest challenge faced by all three applicants is the one-year timeline implemented by the federal government for completion of their buildings. In Souls Harbour's case, this includes the finalization of a design, complying with zoning, and setting up a septic field and well before they can start construction.
“Things have slowed down, the supply chain, everything has changed during the global pandemic,” said Porter. “It will be quite an intense year for Souls Harbour.”
While details of the AHANS proposal are still being worked out, Akoma's property manager Veronica Marsman said she was “beyond excited” to be chosen by the RHI for its project which has been allotted roughly $2.7 million to provide places to live for African Nova Scotians caught up in the housing crisis.
“Hopefully this will alleviate some of the pressures that are ongoing with homeless people,” said Marsman of the Akoma development, which will be part of a mix of housing, recreational and economic opportunities on the former site of the Nova Scotia Home for Coloured Children.
“And we know that there are people of African descent that could benefit from this proposal.”
The approval of the three proposals comes at the same time that Halifax regional council announced $500,000 in emergency funding to provide emergency supportive housing and shelter accommodations for the unhoused.
But as Porter points out, with more than 80 people living rough in the city and a recent AHANS survey that shows up to 400 people who are chronically unhoused, it will take further collaboration between all levels of government, non-profit organizations and members of the public to find long term solutions to this growing issue.
“It's beyond a problem, it's a crisis. Is it the government's job? Is it charity? Do I bring people to my own home, as one of the city councillors said she has done in Tuesday's meeting?,” asked Porter.
“It's all of our responsibilities, and we're just one small cog in a giant wheel that has to happen in Nova Scotia for people to have affordable, secure housing.”