Jen Powley responds to Waye Mason’s op-ed in the Chronicle Herald earlier this month. “While Mason argues that the province needs to build more affordable units, he and his municipal colleagues keep selling off land on the peninsula that could have been a home for affordable housing.”
A group of ten community organizations and members are calling on the Halifax Regional Municipality to abandon its plan to remove temporary shelters from public property today, on July 13, 2021. Whatever its public justifications, what is happening is that the city is reacting to those who view the shelters as eye sores and their residents as bad for business and property values.
Judie Haiven looks at two pre-election goodies coming our way compliments of the provincial government, money for long term care and affordable housing.
Economist James Sawler on the report by the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission. “Affordable housing is crucial infrastructure, and since its benefits accrue not just to individual households but across our entire society (bestowing what economists call positive externalities), like most infrastructure, it should be financed publicly.”
Inclusionary zoning allows a municipality to mandate a certain percentage of affordable housing in new developments. With an affordable housing crisis growing more urgent by the day, why don’t we use this tool in Nova Scotia? Stephen Wentzell investigates.
Rent control and the provincial paid sick leave program both have built-in end dates and are likely to end fairly soon., says Gary Burrill, the leader of the provincial NDP. The Liberals never wanted these programs in the first place, says Burrill.
Landlords like fixed term leases because they offer a way to get around the 2% rent cap currently in place. Stephen Wentzell talks to a tenant who was forced out of his home, and tries to get a response from the province.
Media release: This report shows a complete disconnect from the reality that tenants in this province are facing. Rather than provide material protections for tenants or invest in building public housing, the commission has chosen to recommend cutting red tape and giving tax breaks to developers, vague promises to improve public housing, and discontinuing rent control past the state of emergency.
As of May 21 landlords must ask for tenants’ permission before they conduct in-person showings for the purpose of renting or selling the property. Reporter Jennifer Pratt writes about the new rule, and about her own predicaments dealing with this issue.
A new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Nova Scotia, released today, is making nearly 100 recommendations to address affordable housing and homelessness crises across the province. Journalist Stephen Wentzell spoke with one of its authors, and highlights some of its recommendations.