A very happy New Year to you and yours. I hope you were able to have a restful holiday and to experience some joy over the holiday season. As we move into 2024 I find myself grateful to be able to continue to represent this amazing community. The past year was challenging for many but on the whole Dartmouth continues to thrive.
The Dartmouth General Hospital was designated a Regional hospital and there are exciting expansion plans underway. A new MRI machine was delivered in December greatly increasing the access to imaging for our residents, and plans are in the works for a new emergency department.
Our downtown has seen some great new additions and some sad departures. As always I encourage you to support our local businesses, they are almost all truly local and the folks who own them live in and do so much for our community. Thanks to the DDBC who are always working hard to bring folks downtown. (Coming up next is the Dartmouth Ice Festival, which you won’t want to miss!)
Construction seems to be everywhere, and our population is slated to grow substantially in the next few years. While there are many benefits associated with this including more infrastructure, more businesses and more people being able to share our awesome neighbourhoods, there are challenges too. Affordability, school capacity and traffic have all been identified as issues and are areas we are watching closely.
As always, our office continues to see many residents struggling with secure housing and unfortunately very little of the new construction will be truly affordable. If you own a home and have ever thought of renting out a basement or suite, there is funding available to do the conversion work if you plan to house family or to create affordable housing. Funding is available for up to 50% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $25,000. Details are available here.
With the cost of everything continuing to rise, and the recent increase in NS Power rates this January, now is a good time to review available financial supports and resources:
*Opens Monday, January 15th* The Home Energy Assistance Top-up Fund supports Nova Scotians in need with home heating cost during the winter months. Approved applicants receive assistance one time only up to a max of $400 depending on the amount required. We expect there to be a high number of applications to be sure to apply early and ensure your application is complete. We have been told that incomplete applications will not be considered and the applicant will not be notified.
902-422-3435, heat.fund@salvationarmy.ca
The Heating Assistance Rebate Program helps low-and moderate-income Nova Scotians with the cost of home heating. Rebates are $600 for each household. You can apply until 31 March 2024.
The Consumer Guide to Electricity outlines access to electricity, rights and responsibilities of the consumer, as well as how to navigate payment plans and what to do if you fall into arrears.
The Seniors Care Grant helps low-income seniors with the cost of household services (like lawn care, snow removal, grocery delivery, transportation, small home repairs and phone service), healthcare services (like physiotherapy and mental health support) and home heating. Grants are $750 for each household. You can apply until 31 March 2024. 902-424-5200, 1-800-670-4357, seniors@novascotia.ca
Other financial supports that can help offset the cost of living are available on my website.
As always, if you need assistance, please reach out to my office at 902-406-2301 or claudiachendermla@gmail.com.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Claudia
