NDP Leader Claudia Chender addressed the press at Ocean Breeze on Tuesday, where she highlighted concerns about affordable housing. The redevelopment of Ocean Breeze Village is causing the gradual displacement of hundreds of residents from what she described as “truly affordable” homes.
“Tim Houston could have done far more to protect these residents,” Chender said, alongside two tenants from the complex. “When this land was for sale, his government had the chance to purchase it, preserve these homes, and collaborate with housing organizations to maintain affordable units for the community. Instead, they chose not to act.”
Chender explained that an NDP government would prioritize renters’ protection through a tax credit and rent control measures designed to prevent significant rent hikes after a tenant vacates. Additionally, she emphasized a commitment to expanding the supply of affordable homes.
“This province has lost hundreds of affordable units as housing costs continue to soar, and the Houston Conservatives fail to grasp the urgency of the crisis,” she remarked during her news conference at Ocean Breeze Village. “When Tim Houston took office, he promised to tackle the housing crisis and make affordable housing accessible to Nova Scotians. That promise remains unfulfilled, leaving residents vulnerable to displacement or being priced out by unsustainable rent increases.”
The NDP describes Ocean Breeze as one of the last affordable rental communities in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), which is now facing demolition after being sold to local real estate investors aiming to redevelop the property. There are no assurances that the new housing units will remain affordable.
“The average rent here is $1,400, but for those forced out, they’ll be looking at rents nearing $3,000 for a three-bedroom in HRM,” said Celine Porcheron, a resident at Ocean Breeze since 2017, in an NDP statement. “Such a drastic increase is unaffordable for most families.”
With rents for a one-bedroom surpassing $2,000 monthly and rising at three times the pace of the existing rent cap, many Nova Scotians share Porcheron’s concern about the affordability crisis. The NDP has proposed a multi-faceted strategy to address housing, focusing on both affordability and increasing the supply to make homeownership more attainable.