DARTMOUTH: More families led by women and gender diverse people will have access to safe, affordable homes in Dartmouth as YWCA Halifax continues to open new units in Mount Hope Village.
Phase 3 of the Mount Hope project is now complete, adding 57 more homes, including 40 affordable units.
“Every affordable home means more stability, more opportunity and more hope for people who need it,” said Housing Minister John White. “Mount Hope is a strong example of what can happen when governments and community partners work together with urgency and purpose.
“We are proud to support YWCA Halifax as it creates more safe, supportive homes for women and gender diverse led families in Dartmouth.”
Affordable rents range from $1,075 a month for two-bedroom homes to $1,250 and $1,445 per month for three-bedroom homes. There are also three-bedroom units at market rent for $2,250 a month.
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Phase 3 funding includes $17 million from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC), $5.28 million from the Province through the Affordable Housing Development Program, and $1.4 million from Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM).
Phase 2, with 34 homes, including 24 affordable units, was completed last September. Funding included $9.6 million from CMHC, $3.17 million from the Province through the Affordable Housing Development Program, and $851,250 from HRM.
Mount Hope Village now has a total of 123 homes. The project is part of YWCA Halifax’s broader work to support families led by women and gender diverse people, including those experiencing housing insecurity, with affordable housing and access to wraparound services such as support for maintaining the unit, referrals to mental health and healthcare services and employment skills training.
Quotes:
“This investment is helping the YWCA purchase these new two- and three-bedroom townhouses, giving families the opportunity to live and thrive here in Dartmouth.
“Affordable housing matters, and by partnering with trusted non-profit organizations like the YWCA, we’re ensuring more homes will remain non-profit and benefit families in our community for generations to come.”
— Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour on behalf of Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure
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“The new homes at Mount Hope are a great example of what we can accomplish when governments, the non-profit sector, and private sector work together to get affordable housing built.
“HRM is proud to invest $2.27 million in these new affordable homes, as part of a growing Mount Hope community that brings affordable and market housing together and gives people more choice. City hall needs to create the conditions for more projects like this to move forward faster, at lower cost, and with fewer barriers.”
— Andy Fillmore, Mayor, Halifax Regional Municipality
“Hope needs somewhere to live. With 57 new townhouses providing housing for 200 people, Phase 3 of Mount Hope Village will offer Nova Scotians something powerful: the security and stability of a place to call home.
“Investment in non–profit housing is essential to addressing the housing crisis facing renters. It creates lasting community assets and helps ensure affordable homes remain available for generations to come.”
— Miia Suokonautio, CEO, YWCA Halifax
Quick Facts:
– the first YWCA Mount Hope Village homes opened in 2024, providing affordable housing for 32 families led by women and gender diverse people in Dartmouth
– leases must be held in the name of a woman or gender diverse individual; other household members may be listed as occupants
– community housing organizations and private developers can apply for forgivable loans from Nova Scotia’s Affordable Housing Development Program to help fund the construction of new housing or the conversion of non-residential buildings
– Mount Hope is one of 16 locations that have been designated as special planning areas by the Province, representing more than 60,000 potential homes
