People’s School on The Role of Municipalities and Affordable Housing

THEMATIC BRIEF October 2022

People’s School on The Role of Municipalities and Affordable Housing October 19, 2022

The fourth People’s School on Affordable Housing and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, held online, focused on the role of municipalities. Participants included representatives from public health, community health boards, numerous municipalities, community navigators, non-profits, and service providers. Erika Shea, New Dawn Enterprises, was the resource person.

Analysis: Understanding the Issues Complex Funding Requirements: Participants spoke of the challenges faced in applying for federal and provincial funding for projects in their smaller, rural municipalities. The level of expertise required to complete applications is often beyond the capacity of volunteers and even municipal staff, leading to reluctance to embark on projects.

Challenges in Attracting Construction: Larger municipalities have employed a range of incentives to attract new housing developments such as tax relief and density bonuses.

However, it is hard for smaller municipalities to leverage such tools when they do not have the budget to cover such costs. The booming housing market across the province means developers can charge whatever the market can handle making affordable options more difficult to create.

Actions: Community-Based Solutions Convening: Municipalities, when staff are supported to act, can play a convening role with non-profits to secure capital funding and support the development of other supporting services. Engagement with local partners can help officials identify where the deficits are, and when help is needed for funding or addressing other barriers.

Education: Recognizing the learning curve for elected officials to take on housing issues, a growing number of councillors welcome supports to make informed decisions. Erika notes the decade-long awareness raising process in HRM to help people acquire the skills, language, and understanding of housing to be able to move towards concrete actions.

Advocacy: Both in council chambers and in the community,

“They can’t wash their councillors have a huge role to play to speak up for affordable hands just because they housing solutions. It is a time-consuming task, so the importance of put a program in place.” advocacy needs to be valued as part of the action required as well as land and legislation to be creative. Municipalities still need to hold the province accountable over the long term: “They can’t wash their hands just because they put a program in place.”

Recognizing housing as a human right can facilitate greater accountability and coordination among various public and non-profit entities.

Zoning: Participants noted the importance of decision making that has a broader view than individual project responses, that aligns with climate change action planning—such as advocating for identifying and utilizing vacant lots rather than expanding into forests and wetlands for development. Asset mapping of the land that is potentially accessible and how site selection is done is important for integrated, accessible, healthy communities. This responds to the stigma people have seen when affordable housing initiatives are designated to marginal lands. Erika referred to “inclusionary zoning” that sets quotas for accessible and affordable housing and opens existing lots for denser housing solutions.

Accountability: Priorities for Sustainable Change Equity: More work is needed to identify and address the prevalence of racism. Participants noted in municipalities with designated representation of African Nova Scotian communities in council, having that voice in council was important for raising awareness and response.

Another person spoke of the need to hear the voices of those who are unhoused. “We can’t talk about housing of any form until we talk about poverty, root “We can’t talk about causes, we need to have conversations in tandem.” When we speak housing of any form until of leaving no one behind, what are the municipal supports in place, we talk about poverty, root how do we learn and adapt our projects to ensure this goal is met? causes, we need to have Broadening the discussions can help link and integrate responses conversations in tandem.” across departments. Homelessness and housing insecurity in rural areas continues to be underrepresented and needs much greater attention, with tailored solutions that are distinct from initiatives that are appropriate for more urban areas.

Affordability over the long term: Many groups have come together to raise awareness and take actions to address the housing crisis. Municipalities can articulate the goals, provide research to move work forward, look at policy changes that are needed, and find more proactive approaches than relying on the tools that already exist. Supporting affordable housing in local contexts and ensuring these are long-term solutions are ways to respond to criticisms that too many initiatives are focused on short-term solutions.

Thematic Brief: People’s School on Health Outcomes and Affordable Housing | Page 2

For more information on the People’s School series on Affordable Housing and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, visit this page: https://coady.stfx.ca/sdgs-andaffordable-housing-peoples-schools/