The Nova Scotia NDP party is calling on the Houston government to stabilize the housing market in the province.

The Deputy Minister of Housing John Lohr said the government’s housing strategy would be released this past spring but has still yet to be seen.

The lack of affordable housing is not only affecting residents of Nova Scotia but also potential new residents, according to the NDP.

“I certainly know that there were a number of students who did not accept their seats at different universities [in Nova Scotia] last September, because they couldn't find a place to live,” says Lisa Lachance, NDP MLA for Halifax Citadel-Sable Island and advanced education spokesperson.

This is likely to happen more as the province sees less and less available housing, Lachance says. Lohr said 70,000 new homes need to be built in the next five years to meet demand.

Dr. Catherine Leviten-Reid, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-NS Research Associate and an associate professor at Cape Breton University, also released a letter on June 26 urging the government to do more to address the province’s lack of affordable housing.

The 2021 census showed that there are at least 48,000 Nova Scotians renting who pay at least 30 per cent of their income on shelter.

“We have seen skyrocketing increases, at food banks and other support programs. The executive director of the North Grove was on CBC talking about the huge increase they have seen in people needing support around food, and most of those folks are employed,” Lechance says.

A recent count of people experiencing homelessness in Halifax Regional Municipality has increased from 690 in September 2022 to 953 in mid-June.

Lechance adds the last provincial budget didn’t mention any building for long term supportive housing.

“We're not meeting people's human rights, so we need to act,” Lechance says.

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