Since construction finished in July, the first group of people have moved into the affordable homes in the Mount Hope neighbourhood in Dartmouth.
They will also have wraparound support for things like maintaining the home, mental and health care services, and employment skills training, according to a news release from the provincial government.
“This project demonstrates the art of the possible when we work together. When we lean into each of our respective expertise and with the support of all orders of government, we can achieve affordability and complete communities at scale, ” wrote Miia Suokonautio, executive director of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Halifax in the release.
“Quality modular housing and solid partnerships offer a viable way out of the housing crisis.”
The houses were built with funding from all three levels of government, including:
- $2.9 million in forgivable funding from the provincial government
- $8.36 million in repayable and forgivable funding from the federal government
- $650,000 from the Halifax Regional Municipality
- $375,000 in cash equity from YWCA Halifax
YWCA owns the buildings, which are two- and three-bedroom townhomes in Mount Hope Village.
In total, there are 32 homes.
One building is set aside for a superintendent. Ten units are set aside for urban Indigenous families who “are in core housing need and experiencing homelessness” as a collaboration with the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, the release said. Twelve units will be set aside for families who are currently living in hotels and supported by the Adsum for Women and Children group. The YWCA will fill the rest of the units with their existing housing programs.
The Department of Community Services gives $510,000 annually to YWCA Halifax, and they also spend some money on the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, but their operating budget is not finalized, according to the release.
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