Almost 200 affordable homes to be preserved in Dartmouth, Truro

CITYnews halifax / By Mark Hodgins

A partnership between the province and a community organization aims to preserve dozens of affordable housing units in Dartmouth and Truro.

The government said it provided Rooted with nearly $7 million in grants and loans, which it has used to purchase three properties in Dartmouth and three in Truro.

Those properties include 19 Primrose St., as well as 2 and 4 Franklyn Court in Dartmouth, and 16 Park St. and 18 and 28 Minerva Dr. in Truro.

Between the Dartmouth and Truro properties, the purchase of the 197 units will allow current tenants to remain in their affordable homes, according to the province.

“Preserving existing affordable housing units is just as important as building new, and that work is a key focus of our housing plan,” said Colton LeBlanc, Minister of Growth and Development.

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The units will remain affordable for a minimum of 30 years, or until the mortgages mature, the press release reads.

Rooted CEO Nick Russell says the province’s programs, some of which stack together, have allowed the organization to expand its portfolio and protect the affordability of more units in Nova Scotia.

“The impact of housing as critical infrastructure extends to job creation, local economic development, and most importantly, creates the environment for communities to thrive,” said Russell.

The province said it has invested more than $283 million in 3,054 affordable units since 2021.

One of the buildings the province is buying with an organization to ensure it stays affordable. (19 Primrose St., Google Maps)