PORT HAWKESBURY/ARICHAT:Two new affordable housing projects in the Strait Area are set to deliver 29 much-needed affordable units as part of a provincial push to increase housing availability across Nova Scotia.
The Province of Nova Scotia has announced a combined $3 million investment to support new housing developments in both Port Hawkesbury and Arichat, bringing a total of 50 new units to the region, including 29 designated as affordable.
“This is about building more housing, faster – and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Inverness MLA Kyle MacQuarrie said. “These projects are about more than bricks and mortar. They’re about giving people in the Strait region access to safe, affordable homes while helping local economies grow and thrive.”
At 100 Reeves Street in Port Hawkesbury, DC Developments Inc. is constructing a 40-unit housing development that includes 20 affordable units. The project features a mix of studio and one-bedroom apartments and is conveniently located within walking distance of the Nova Scotia Community College Strait Area Campus.
The total cost of the development is $7.82 million, with the province contributing more than $2 million in forgivable funding through its Affordable Housing Development Program.
“We’re excited to work with the province on an affordable housing project that will support the Strait area, an important hub for so many rural communities in Nova Scotia,” Jeremy Carroll, director of DC Developments Inc. said. “Quality housing strengthens communities, and we are proud to play a role in that success.”
Rental management for the development will be handled by Brela Homes.
In Arichat, Lennox Place Limited is transforming a former commercial building into a 10-unit apartment complex at 818 Veterans Memorial Drive. Nine of those units will be designated as affordable housing. The province is providing $990,000 in forgivable funding toward the $2.1 million conversion project.
“This 10-unit apartment building in rural Arichat will provide safe, affordable homes for local residents in a region where housing options are limited,” Rachelle Samson, owner of Lennox Place Limited said. “As a local developer, I’m proud to contribute to a project that supports the retention of families, seniors, and individuals in our community.”
These projects are part of the government’s broader housing strategy, Our Homes, Action for Housing, which has enabled the development of over 51,000 new housing units since 2023. Since 2021, more than $283 million has been invested in affordable housing initiatives across the province, supporting the creation of 3,054 affordable units and counting.
In 2024, four modular housing units previously used for wildfire evacuees were relocated to Port Hawkesbury to house healthcare and skilled workers. All four are currently occupied.
Both community housing organizations and private developers are eligible to apply for forgivable loans under the Affordable Housing Development Program to support new construction or convert existing buildings into residential housing.
With housing pressures continuing to impact communities across the province, these developments in Port Hawkesbury and Arichat represent a significant step toward securing more affordable living options for Nova Scotians.