'It's profound': Housing strategy for African Nova Scotian families nearing completion
CBC
A community-led effort to find solutions to the housing crunch faced by Black families in Nova Scotia is almost finished, in what's believed to be a first for the province.
"It's always been an issue within the Black community," said Sunday Miller, the property consultant for Akoma Holdings, one of the organizations on a steering committee that's been working for nearly two years to develop the housing needs assessment and strategy.
She sees the report, which was developed with government funding, as deeply significant.
"I think the unfortunate circumstance is that, those who had their own homes, there's been so many of them who've had them taken away," Miller said.
She points to events like the demolition of Africville and the way some Black families were denied clear title to their land as examples of how many Black Nova Scotians were unable to use real estate as a foundation to build up wealth.
Last fall, Akoma opened an eight-unit affordable housing development to help address the problem. Miller said choosing the successful applicants was difficult.
"Some were living in hotels, and that's because there was no more room left in the shelters," she said. "Others [were] living in shelters and maybe have their children with them."
Miller said she's looking forward to the report being released soon.
"It helps us understand what we need to work on," she said. "It's about time to listen to the community."
Work on the strategy included 19 consultations over the summer of 2023, where 164 people gave input at meetings around the province.
Curtis Whiley facilitated the meeting in Upper Hammonds Plains, a suburb of Halifax.
"People shared their experiences with not being able to even gain secure rental housing, even outside of our community," he said.
Some people want to live where they grew up but can't find an affordable rental, he said. As well, he said homes are being built but they are out of the price range of many first-time home buyers.
"You don't see as many of those smaller, modest type housing units available, especially in our communities," he said.
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