It’s hard to believe that it has already been a year since I started as the Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Non-Profit Housing Association (NSNPHA). As I look back, I feel proud of how much we’ve achieved together, and I’m grateful for all the support we’ve received. We’ve made great progress, but there’s still more to do as we work together to solve housing challenges in Nova Scotia.
Building Our Community
Over the past year, our association has grown to 80+ members. We’ve held monthly meetings, launched regional networks, and partnered with groups like Cape Breton University to offer training to help folks develop and manage affordable housing projects. These efforts are helping us build a stronger non-profit housing community.
I’m also excited to share that we’ve hired a new Capacity Building Coordinator this month. She will help non-profit housing groups get started with their projects, offering guidance and connecting them with the right resources. This is an important step in making sure our members succeed.
A Big Thank You to Our Board
I want to give a special thank you to our volunteer Board of Directors. Over the past year, they’ve worked hard to keep things running smoothly while we built our small but mighty staff team. Now that our staff can handle most of the daily work, the Board can focus on big-picture tasks like planning for the future and making important governance decisions. We wouldn’t be where we are today without their hard work!
What’s Coming Next?
We have a lot planned for the coming months! We’ll be launching regional housing networks in Cape Breton (Nov 7th), the Strait Area (Nov 20th), Rural African Nova Scotian communities (Nov 21st in Truro) and Valley/South Shore (Nov 22nd), These networks will help housing providers and community organizations work together to solve local housing challenges. At the same time, we’re offering three free affordable housing workshops in the form of Cahdco’s affordable housing game, GoNoGo.
Housing Symposium
We have partnered with the United Way Maritimes to bring the Housing Symposium to you again in Halifax, Nov. 18th The day will be a great opportunity to learn and connect with others about housing and homelessness.
National Right to Housing Day
As we look ahead to National Right to Housing Day on November 22, it’s a good time to remember how important it is for everyone to have a safe, affordable home. Housing is a basic human right, and we’re working to make sure every person in Nova Scotia has a place they can call home.
To mark this day, we’re hosting Housing Day on Citadel Hill – November 19th. This event will bring together housers and legislators (MLAs) to talk about housing policies and solutions. It’s a great chance for us to work together with decision-makers to make real change.
We’re also excited for the Nova Scotia Housing Summit on November 19th, where cross-sector experts will come together to discuss collaborative ways to address the housing crisis. We’ll plan to meet again in six months to see what progress has been made.
We’re also working on the long-term sustainability of NSNPHA. Our goal is to create a Resource Hub that will support our members with capacity building consultations while helping us generate revenue to keep doing this important work.
Thank You
I want to thank all our members, partners, and supporters who have helped make this first year a success. Your dedication to creating affordable housing in Nova Scotia is what drives us forward. I encourage you to stay involved—whether it’s by attending events, sharing your thoughts, or working together to solve problems. Together, we can continue to make a difference.
Here’s to another year of growth and collaboration!
Warmly,
Trish McCourt
Executive Director
Nova Scotia Non-Profit Housing Association
On Tuesday, January 21st, NSNPHA and CHF Canada Members are invited to participate in an exclusive Policy Engagement Day.
Check your inbox for your invitation to attend, or email bryanna@nsnpha.com for more details.
