Last Saturday the hardworking people at ACORN Nova Scotia launched a list of demands that they hope anti-austerity activists and organizations in the province can sign off on.
PSA: The pandemic has exacerbated issues that have been brewing in Nova Scotia for years, and the time is now to enact long-overdue policies to benefit low- and moderate-income people of all statuses. Our platform includes demands around housing including permanent rent control, inclusionary zoning, and residential tenancies reform – but we are also introducing demands around fair banking, minimum wage and labour, and raising the rates of income assistance and disability.”
Metcap Living tenants in Spryfield say they are tired of living in buildings that are in disrepair and not kept clean, with security entrances kept unlocked, and with units that are mouldy, drafty and infested with vermin.
Press release: Tenants at the apartment complexes in Spryfield are living five people to a room because ceilings are caving in, families and seniors are going without heat, and have been living with bed bugs for years.
On Wednesday, February 17th, ACORN will be holding events in nine cities across the country releasing results from a nationwide survey and report to understand the experiences of consumers of high interest loans (Loans with interest rate from 25% – over 500%), especially when they are taken out online.
A small ACORN Nova Scotia rally and press conference in downtown Halifax served to remind the three Liberal MLAs running to become the new premier of Nova Scotia that as far as low income Nova Scotians are concerned the current premier left the province in a terrible mess.
PSA: Nova Scotia ACORN has published a guide to tell renters that if your rent went up by more than 2% since September 1st your landlord may owe you money.
Tenants of Harbour View Towers rallied outside the lobby of the large apartment complex on Brunswick Street in Halifax. They were there to draw attention to a lack of heat and several other issues that their landlord CAPREIT has so far not addressed.
CAPREIT is making $1000/minute in profit and still refusing to repair the heat in the apartment buildings so tenants don’t freeze in their units. Tenants at Harbour View Towers are having a lobby meeting and rallying on Tuesday, December 15th to get CAPREIT to fix the heat and force the landlord to do capital repairs and maintenance – including pest treatment.
Press release: We’re thrilled to see the Province bend towards reason. We would not have seen any movement on rent control if it were not for the tireless work of our members, tenants across Nova Scotia, and activists who have been fighting for our communities for years – organizing works.