The last 18 months have not been easy for our province. Coronavirus has impacted our health, our communities, our businesses, and our budgets. REALTORS® understand the new reality we’re living in and are working hard to address the housing shortage in our province.
REALTORS® work closely with our elected officials and partners to strengthen our housing markets. Our partnerships create programs like the Down Payment Assistance Program, helping over 635 families buy homes in our province in the last four years. Right now, housing levels are at historic lows. Without appropriate, income-accessible housing, our communities suffer.
Housing is a spectrum – from community and social housing to new builds – the importance of having a place to call home will not disappear when the pandemic ends.
Lack of housing impacts businesses. Recruitment and retention rely on the ability of employees to find income accessible, appropirae housing for their families. The bottom line is that lack of housing impacts your bottom line.
REALTORS® believe that every Nova Scotian deserves a safe, affordable, appropriate place to live. That’s why in March 2021, after months of consultation with stakeholders across the province, REALTORS® submitted a proposal to Nova Scotia’s Affordable Housing Commission that addresses six themes to help with housing:
- Collaboration – Calling on all levels of government to work together, as well as more closely with private sectors to increase opportunities, create innovative solutions and build better communities.
- Municipalities – Encouraging the province and municipalities to share housing responsibilities and examine red tape and fees.
- Whole communities – Ensuring all communities support a variety of income levels and mixed types of housing through variety of housing types, price-ranges, and services.
- Aging population – Supporting our seniors to age-in-place, providing more housing solutions, and making more long term care spaces available for those that need it.
- Trade shortages - Increasing skilled labour, heavy equipment operator, and Red Seal trade training programs through the Nova Scotia Community College and offering incentives for training and hiring in-demand tradespeople.
- Innovative solutions – Highlighting solutions at taxation levels, as well as innovative community solutions.
The Quality of Life in Nova Scotia is second to none, however, if we continue to ignore our housing crisis we risk losing the affordability and availability of housing in our communities – damaging Quality of Life that our province is known for.
We know Nova Scotians are resilient, creative, and caring. From innovative community partnerships to reducing red tape, we can all Play a Part in addressing the housing shortage in our province. To learn more, visit www.nsrealtors.ca/documents/affordablehousing.pdf
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