Province holds onto housing dollars while seniors climb stairs

Monday November 24, 2003

Halifax – Halifax Atlantic NDP MLA Michele Raymond has written the Minister of Community Services David Morse to request a definitive statement from him on how much of the Affordable Housing Program Agreement funds have been allocated to seniors housing and when those funds will be available.

Raymond has an immediate interest in the lack of elevators in a number of the province’s senior housing complexes, such as the Captain Spry Lodge in her constituency.

“There are 80 and 90 year olds with osteoporosis, congestive heart failure and emphysema struggling to climb up the stairs with groceries in a building that has had an elevator ‘on the way’ for years,� says Raymond.

“$37.26 million was allocated for housing programs over a year ago and very little has been spent, while the province’s share sits parked in general revenues.�

“Is it possible that the budget is being balanced on paper at the expense of low income seniors?�

Raymond points out that the situation at the Captain Spry Lodge is not unique. In the late 1980\‘s a number of multi-storey seniors complexes in Nova Scotia were built without elevators which in many cases, have yet to be installed.

In September of 2002 the province signed a five year Affordable Housing Agreement with Ottawa. The Agreement committed the province to spending $18.63 million on affordable housing by the end of 2007. To date only less than $1 million of provincial money has been spent.�

“This Saturday the Minister made much of the Agreement on National Housing Day,� says Raymond. “But it is time that the speeches stopped and the work started.�

“The seniors at the Captain Spry Lodge have waited for their elevator long enough.�

30

« Previous News Release
NDP calls on Government to limit assessment increases

Next News Release »
ASSESSMENTS CONTINUE TO DRIVE UP TAX RATES GOVERNMENT