No new housing, only shelters

The provincial budget allocates $21.6 million to offer 1,000 more people rent subsidies and CAD 8.2 million for emergency and overnight shelters. But there's no new money for public housing.

The planning does not take into account people who are struggling with housing affordability and those who are experiencing homelessness, housing advocates say.

"Rent supplements are a valuable “stopgap” but that the province is in dire need of new affordable housing options," said Michael Kabalen, with Affordable Housing Nova Scotia.

Kabalen said his organization knows of 884 people in a situation of "permanent homelessness". And that number has tripled since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The measures outlined in the budget are important, but "it doesn't provide housing for the homeless and those in need of affordable housing today." Hannah Wood, Halifax chair of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Today, said government support for public housing is "the biggest core need to be filled."

"So I think government missed a real opportunity to at least start the major investment that's needed to build back up our reserves of affordable housing," she said. "We haven't had a major investment in affordable housing construction since the early 1990s."

Like a year before health care was a major budget item, with a CAD 750 million increase compared to last year. Health-related investments are expected to reach CAD 6.5 billion between 2023 and 2024, which is about 45% of total spending. The budget itself was CAD 14.4 billion.

Michael Kabalen said he understands the province's focus on improving the health care system, but the government should recognize that Nova Scotians have a better chance of being in good health if they have housing.