The number of families experiencing homelessness and staying in provincially funded hotel rooms has dropped significantly in Nova Scotia.
The province says 19 families are currently living in temporary hotel accommodations, down from 81 in August 2025.
That’s a decrease of more than 76 per cent, which the government attributes to investments in supportive housing and programs aimed at helping families find more permanent homes.
“Families deserve more than a hotel room. They deserve a home where they can cook dinner, where kids can have their own space to sleep and play, and where they can feel settled,” said Opportunities and Social Development Minister Susan Corkum-Greek.
The province has expanded several programs to help people experiencing homelessness move into stable housing.
One is the Master Lease Program, introduced in 2024, which provides funding to community organizations to rent properties from landlords and sublease them to people who need housing.
The program currently provides 86 units for families through four service providers.
Another initiative is supportive housing, which combines accommodation with services such as healthcare, financial planning and other assistance.
Nova Scotia currently has 1,229 supportive housing units, with a goal of reaching 1,586 by March 2028.
The province is also looking to expand supportive housing outside Halifax, including in Lunenburg, Pictou and Kings counties.
Community organizations and other partners have been invited to propose new projects that would provide housing and additional supports to people experiencing homelessness.
One existing example is The Rose in downtown Halifax, operated in partnership with Adsum for Women & Children.
The facility provides 24 apartments for families with children experiencing homelessness, along with services such as budgeting assistance, financial literacy programs and parenting support.
The province says it has also helped 299 families so far this year through funding intended to prevent homelessness, including assistance with overdue rent, utility bills and other housing-related expenses.
Nova Scotia’s 2026-27 budget includes $165 million for supportive housing and homelessness programs, an increase of $35 million over the previous year.
Corkum-Greek says the government’s goal is not simply to reduce the number of hotel stays, but to ensure more Nova Scotians have access to safe, stable housing.
