Houston government shortchanges Nova Scotians counting on rent supplement

HALIFAX – New Democrats are demanding answers after a recent Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) response revealed that the Houston government underpaid Nova Scotians who rely on rental supplements to afford their homes.

The documents show that confusion over how to calculate rents in certain areas led to delays and inconsistent decisions.

“It’s impossible to ensure you have what you need to take care of your family if you don’t know how much money you have in your budget. Nova Scotians who get rent supplements need to know when they can expect this help and exactly how much they can count on,” said NSNDP Housing Critic Suzy Hansen. “The government has to do better than this. What is the Houston government doing to ensure people have the stable, predictable help that they need each month?”

New Democrats are calling on the government to improve the rent supplement program, strengthen renter protections, and make more investments in housing people can actually afford.

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