StudentsNS pushes 'up-front needs-based grants,' for students
“. . .
Claudia Chender, the NDP representative from Dartmouth South, asked about the housing crunch, particularly rentals for Halifax students.
‘The average price of a two-bedroom apartment in Halifax has increased 43 per cent in the last five years and the minimum wage has gone up 15 per cent,’ Chender said, asking what the department is doing to address housing costs that are forcing students to withdraw their enrolment because they can’t find a place to live.
When Montgomerie explained that cross-department efforts have led to rent supplements for students, Chender said ‘our consistent position on rent supplements is that in a market with no availability, rent supplements are not particularly useful.’
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