Supporting non-profit and co-operative housing in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Abstract

ABSTRACT The social housing sector is critical in providing housing to a range of households, but housing providers have been met with challenging conditions in recent decades. This study of non-profit and co-operative housing providers and policy makers in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), a mid-sized city in Nova Scotia, Canada, found significant resource capacity limitations due their limited size, experience, and awareness of existing policies and programs. Interviews showed that their limited network and political capacity also present significant challenges to expanding their supply. A policy review showed that most current tools, programs, and policies have not been designed to address the capacity limitations in the sector. The recent political shift seen through the 2018 National Housing Strategy could improve the capacity of non-profits and co-ops in Nova Scotia, though this would involve partnerships and consultation with the sector, which would diverge sharply from historical patterns.