N.S. woman spends most of her income on rent, says it’s ‘impossible’ to get help
Claudia Chender, leader of Nova Scotia’s NDP, said the provincial government’s current rental supplement program isn’t having its intended impact.
“It’s actually not based on how much the apartment costs. It’s based on their guidelines of how much the apartment should cost,” she said, adding that annual rent increases are worsening the situation.
“In our environment, when we’ve had 12.9 per cent year-over-year increases, it’s just not accurate.”
Chender said she’s chatted with many residents, like Cole, who are forgoing groceries because they’re spending more than 60 per cent of their income on rent, yet still remain ineligible for support due to rents rising faster than the province’s ability to assess average prices in a particular area.
“This is why we’re seeing a proliferation of tents. This is why we’re seeing so many Nova Scotians who can’t afford to keep a roof over their heads,” she said.