Summer is almost here, and I can’t wait to soak up the Nova Scotia sun and spend time in our beautiful Dartmouth lakes! As always, we’ll be keeping an eye on lake safety and algae testing, and we’ll share updates in future newsletters and on social media. Follow along on Instagram at @chenderdartmouth for real-time community news and events.
There’s so much happening in Dartmouth South over the next few weeks. I hope to see you out and about! The Sanctuary Arts Centre has an exciting lineup of shows—check out their events page and our listings below. And Eastern Front’s Stages Festival kicks off this week! I’m especially looking forward to The Final Recording of an Almost Extinct Bird by Zuppa Theatre, featuring Dartmouth South’s own Stewart Legere.
While we celebrate summer, housing continues to be a major challenge for our residents. We hear from many students and seniors whose rent is rising much faster than they can afford. Businesses who struggle with staffing, and some who are even leaving our province because they can’t find an affordable place to live. This is why we need renter protections and, ultimately, a way for people to get into the housing market. This shared equity model is really exciting, and similar to what we’ve been pushing for in the Legislature.
We’re also grappling with a deepening crisis in housing and homelessness. New builds are going up—but the most recent data from AHANS (Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia) shows that our unhoused population has doubled. Chronic homelessness is rising, and more people are falling through the cracks—sleeping in cars, couch surfing, or stuck in a cycle they can’t escape. More supportive housing like the Overlook is being called for from front line advocates to help chronically homeless people get into safe shelter.
While the lack of affordable housing persists at all levels, there are some bright spots especially in the non-profit sector. Rooted is working on exciting projects in Dartmouth, paving the way for affordability in our community. After a private developer walked away from a $22M incentive to include affordable units, the the YWCA stepped in and with only $2.9 million in provincial funding, and a lot of bridge building and fundraising, has housed over 30 families in Mount Hope in under a year. Meanwhile the Geary street encampment has again closed, hopefully this time for good, while navigators work to find people appropriate housing.
We need more affordable housing, plain and simple. Public, not for profit, and private—everyone has a roll to play in making sure that everyone has a place to call home.
As always, if you need assistance, please reach out to my office at 902-406-2301 or claudiachendermla@gmail.com.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Claudia
