'They're in crisis': Number of Nova Scotians waiting for rent supplement skyrockets

At a time when rental housing is becoming less affordable and harder to find, many low-income Nova Scotians are turning to the rent supplement benefit program for help.

But the program, which is funded by the federal and provincial governments, isn't keeping up with the demand. 

Numbers CBC News received recently from the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing show that out of 2,340 applications to the program between October 2022 and March 2023, almost half of those applications remained pending at the end of that period.

That means 1,016 people were still waiting to hear if they will receive a rent supplement, up from just 55 six months earlier.

Housing support workers say the lag in processing in combination with a recent change to the program's eligibility requirements is leaving many people in a state of panic.

"We're hearing every day from them," said Leigh MacLean, housing and homelessness team lead at Welcome Housing in Halifax.

"They're in crisis, they are going to lose their housing. They're holding on to their sanity at this point and they're stuck in limbo."

Jasper Lennox is one of the people stuck in limbo. The 23-year-old works full-time in a minimum wage job.

Lennox and their partner share an apartment, but still can't afford rent in Halifax. 

Lennox applied to the rent supplement program in January, but didn't receive a response for more than three months.

During that period, Lennox and their partner stayed at a friend's apartment while the two of them looked through rental ads, some charging $2,000 a month.

"It's been really stressful," Lennox said. "I've been emailing and calling every other week and no one really answers the phone."

In late January, the province quietly changed the eligibility rules for the Canada-Nova Scotia Targeted Housing Benefit, known as the rent supplement program.

The definition of severe housing need was changed to only apply to those spending 50 per cent or more of their income on housing. There are also household income limits — for instance, a couple renting a one-bedroom unit in Halifax must have a household income under $45,000.