Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency
 | |
| Company type | Crown corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Housing |
| Founded | 1 December 2022 |
| Headquarters | , Canada |
| Owners | Government of Nova Scotia |
| Website | nspha |
The Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency (NSPHA) is a Crown corporation responsible for administering public housing in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It was formed in 2022 through a merger of five regional housing authorities.
History
[edit]In 2022, the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission (appointed in 2020) released its final progress report. The commission made several recommendations, including the modernisation of provincial housing legislation and the establishment of a "arm’s length independent provincial housing entity".[1] The same year, Nova Scotia's auditor general released a report critical of the management of public housing in the province.[2]
The Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency was established by the Housing Supply and Services Act, which replaced the Housing Act and Housing Nova Scotia Act in late 2022.[3] Under the new legislation, NSPHA was formed by merging Nova Scotia's five regional housing authorities:
- Cape Breton Island Regional Housing Authority
- Cobequid Housing Authority
- Eastern Mainland Housing Authority
- Metro Regional Housing Authority
- Western Regional Housing Authority
The housing authority boards were also dissolved. The NSPHA has an advisory board that answers to Nova Scotia's minister of housing.[4] At the time of its establishment, the NSPHA was responsible for around 11,200 housing units.[5]
Administrative structure
[edit]The NSPHA is headquartered in Halifax and has four regional offices:
- Cape Breton Island District – Cape Breton Island
- Metropolitan District – Halifax region
- Northern District – Guysborough County, Antigonish County, Pictou County, Cumberland County, Colchester County
- Western District – Kings County, Annapolis County, Digby County, Yarmouth County, Shelburne County, Queens County, Lunenburg County and Hants County (East and West)
References
[edit]- ^ "Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission Progress Report" (PDF). Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission. August 2022.
- ^ "Oversight and Management of Government Owned Public Housing". Office of the Auditor General of Nova Scotia. 2022.
- ^ "Housing Supply and Services Act". Nova Scotia Legislature. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ Gorman, Michael (20 October 2022). "N.S. government unveils details of new housing agency". CBC.
- ^ "Legislation Amalgamates Housing Authorities, Creates Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency". Nova Scotia Government. 20 October 2022.