Halifax's 'aggressive' goal of 5,000 affordable homes in 5 years

Halifax regional councilhas endorsed what the mayor says is a bold goal of having5,000affordable housing units in the city withinthe next five years.

A quarter of thehouseholds in the municipality spend 30 per cent or more of their householdincome on housing, according to theHousing andHomelessnessPartnership,a local coalition dedicatedto combating homelessness.

Mayor Mike Savage said Tuesday the new target means opening 3,000 new affordable units in the municipality with the help ofHousing Nova Scotia, non-profit groups and the private sector.

"It is an aggressive target for us," he said.

Council also hopes to encourage private developers to create units for people with low to moderate incomes.

Employed but homeless

Deputy Mayor Steve Craig, who represents Lower Sackville, said he's aware of one person who is employed but resorted to sleeping in a car because they could not find an affordable place to live.

"We need to move forward, to be an advocate for those who have no voice,"said Craig. "To do all that we can do within our mandate."

Affordable housing could seemonthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment drop as low as $886 from $1,400.

Taller buildings, more affordable units

Rent supplementsand increasing the number of licensed rooming houses could help Halifax reach itsgoal.

Planning officials are also hopefulcouncil's endorsement of a so-called density bonusingprogram will make a difference. It means developers wouldbe allowed to construct a taller buildingif they agree to create a percentage of affordable housing units within that building.

Jacob Ritchie, a municipal planner, said a seven-storey building could beincreased to 14 storeys if nine units in the building weredesignated affordable.

More work needed

"This is not the full solution for affordability in Halifax," said Ritchie."This is just an effective way to deal with the new,private rental market."

Halifax can only offer density bonuses to developers in the city centre. Provincial approval is needed to provide it in other areas of the municipality.

That disappointed a number of councillors, including Coun. Russell Walker, whorepresentsHalifax-Bedford Basin West.

"I have four units under construction, sixor seventhat will get underwayshortly, who won't qualify for this," he said. "Soaffordable housing won't be in those buildings."

Regional council has asked planners to work with the province sodensity bonuses can be expanded to other areas of the municipality.

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