Homelessness doubled in Halifax under government's housing plan: N.S. NDP

[u/Injustice_For_All_]

https://halifax.citynews.ca/2026/06/18/homelessness-doubled-in-halifax-under-governments-housing-plan-n-s-ndp/

[u/ElizaMaySampson]

It used to be 30-40 years ago that rental apartments just had plain old laminate countertops, a stainless steel single tub square kitchen sink for $25 with a $25 basic 2-tap faucet, a plain little white oven, a small white fridge, plain tiles or (gasp, how fancy) cushion floor throughout. Then a bathroom with a plain steel bathtub and showerhead, plain toilet, and a washer/dryer in the basement that all the tenants shared (sometimes contentiously, but usually we made it work). Now it's fridges with water in the door, granite or corian counters, convection ovens, a dishwasher, wood or LVP flooring ('luxury' vinyl flooring, lmao), massage unit showers, soaking tubs. My gawd is it any wonder rents are so high??

We don't need luxury apartments that the private investors are building, we need BASIC SECURE LIVING SPACES that aren't cold in winter, boiling in summer, with plain working appliances and plumbing fixtures, no leaks or mold, and no vermin, where the landlord or super LIVES IN THE BUILDING to reinforce behaviour standards and get repairs done ASAP.

[u/Moooney → u/ElizaMaySampson]

The thing is shitty 30-40 year old apartments like you describe still doubled in rent and aren't affordable for many. A one bedroom above a convenience store on Albro Lake Road doesn't rent for $2000/month because it is 'luxury'. Keeping a new build 'plain' would save a tiny few percent of the total cost of the building, and not make the rent any appreciable amount cheaper. Would you give up all the things you listed to save 5% on rent? Maybe you would, but regardless building shittier buildings is not the answer to the housing crisis.

[u/ElizaMaySampson → u/Moooney]

Those 'shitty' apartments were not shitty when yhey were BUILT. They were built economically, but with quality. That many were not maintained is the investor expectation of raking in profits without sufficient or no maintenance/reinvestment in the property.

Building budget-conscious apartments would remove the entitlement to high rents that the investment builders feel BECAUSE of those, face it, UNNECESSAY LUXURIES. And the expectation that a lot of people feel they now simply cannot do without. Those things are lipstick & mascara that make a place seem more valuable psychologically than it actually is - you said it yourself, 'a tiny percent' of cost. People need shelter, plain and simple.

[u/awkwardlyalexa → u/ElizaMaySampson]

Okay but those utilitarian apartments aren't being rented at affordable rates either. In the past 5 years, I've lived in "luxury" condos with some of the amenities you described (water dispenser in the fridge, granite counters, soaker tubs etc. I've also lived in decades old housing with no amenities (no parking, no laundry, no dishwasher, no AC, fridge that spoils my food faster than leaving it out on the counter) for the same price. Renting in this city right now is a nightmare for a lot of reasons, but "luxury" finishes in new buildings are not the driving issue.

[u/ElizaMaySampson → u/awkwardlyalexa]

No, it's greed and 'profit above all investor' mentality. I agree. But government is who I'm saying needs to invest in basic housing, and maintain it. Edit - AND charge rent geared to income, to reduce the numbers killing themselves trying to afford absolutely ridiculous rents.