FACT CHECK: Is the Houston government’s housing plan working?

HALIFAX – A recent op-ed from Tim Houston’s Housing Minister John Lohr claims their government is taking “bold action” to address the housing crisis. But is their plan really working to make homes affordable?

OP-ED: “Since taking office, our investments in housing have skyrocketed, helping thousands of Nova Scotians either stay in their homes or find housing.”

FACT: The number of people experiencing homelessness quadrupled under the Houston government’s watch. They’ve also failed to address pathways to homelessness like the fixed-term lease loophole and lack of protection for renters. The recent budget update revealed the Houston government underspent their housing budget so far this year.

OP-ED: “For the first time since the 1990s, government is building 273 new public housing units that will help over 700 people access safe and affordable housing.”

FACT: These new units won’t be nearly enough. There are currently more than 7,000 applicants on the public housing waitlist. Just 17 of the new public housing units are currently occupied and most have yet to be built.

OP-ED: “Rent supplements also help make life more affordable for Nova Scotians. That’s why we’ve quadrupled our investment in this program to $69 million annually.”

FACT: The demand for rent supplements is going up because an increasing number of Nova Scotians are spending more than 30 per cent of their income on housing costs. This is a direct result of this government refusing to implement real rent control, and setting the rent cap well above the rate of inflation. The Houston government also previously changed the eligibility threshold to qualify for the program from 30 to 50 per cent of a household’s gross income. Hundreds were blocked from accessing this program as a result, and the Houston government later had to partially walk back this decision and change the income eligibility threshold to 40 per cent.

The fact is, the housing crisis continues to worsen under the Houston government. They won’t create enough homes that Nova Scotians can actually afford, they won’t put homeownership within reach for first-time homebuyers, and they won’t protect renters by closing the fixed-term lease loophole.

We need real solutions to the housing crisis. Nova Scotia New Democrats’ Homes Within Reach program would address this crisis from all sides by making deep investments in non-market housing, prioritizing the rapid construction of homes that people at all income levels can afford, and ensuring people can find and keep a home they can afford by implementing real rent control and greater renter protections.
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