A Housing Strategy For Nova Scotia

From a May 6th social media release by the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services:

More Nova Scotians will find affordable housing that meets their needs as part of the province's first long-term housing strategy. Premier Darrell Dexter and Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse unveiled the strategy today, May 6, during a visit to the North Woodside Community Centre in Dartmouth.

Quotes

"Our homes, and the communities they are part of, shape nearly every aspect of our lives -- health, education, success in the workplace, even the security of our retirement and dignity in old age. Yet many working families cannot afford rent, let alone a mortgage, and many seniors and people with disabilities lack good housing options."

Premier Darrell Dexter

"Our strategy will build vibrant communities, revitalize existing neighbourhoods, and offer affordable new housing choices to Nova Scotia families."

Premier Darrell Dexter

"Few things are as important as having a good, affordable home that meets a person's unique needs. Through collaboration, we have developed a strategy that sets out a new direction for housing -- one that stresses affordability, partnership and community-building. The right housing choices can mean safer, more sustainable, and more vibrant communities."

Denise Peterson-Rafuse, Minister of Community Services

"Shelter Nova Scotia is pleased to see a collaborative strategy that espouses a housing first model. We have seen first-hand the benefits this model has had on the men and women we serve."

Don Spicer, executive director of Shelter Nova Scotia

"It is a challenge but we must build more housing that people can afford. We must not continue to equate big with better when we discuss housing options. This strategy is a bold and innovative roadmap in that direction."

Paul Pettipas, president of the Nova Scotia Home Builders' Association

"I am so grateful to own a home that my children grew up in. I believe this is something we all wish for. It is because of the work that community and private organizations do that I was able to own my own home while my children were young enough to live there. Programs that give more Nova Scotians a chance at affordable home ownership or rent is good news."

Karen Cole, a single mother who purchased her home through Habitat for Humanity

Quick Facts

• The strategy represents a fundamental shift in the province's approach to affordable housing.

• Over the next 10 years, the development of affordable housing and affordable home ownership will substantially increase and will focus on diverse communities with different housing and tenure types, income levels and family composition.

• $500 million over 10 years will go towards supporting new and enhanced affordable housing projects and programs.

• The strategy was built on themes that emerged from provincewide public consultations held in 2012 with more than 500 Nova Scotians, including non-profit and community organizations engaged in housing issues, housing developers, governments, and interested Nova Scotians.

• The strategy will restructure the Nova Scotia Housing Development Corporation and all housing staff in Community Services as Housing Nova Scotia.

• Among the programs that Housing Nova Scotia is considering are down payment assistance, lease-to-own opportunities, a graduate home ownership program, and retrofit programs

Also see:

Download the strategy (PDF)

Download a plain text version (PDF)

Learn more about the consultation process

Information, pictures and videos from the launch event

Government cuts hurt people with disabilities

An opinion piece published in today's edition of The Chronicle Herald:

By Wayne MacNaughton [pictured]

Last week, the government announced that it was "clarifying" the rules around "special needs" for people living in poverty (re: "Social assistance won’t cover pot," Aug. 10). However, the news coverage thus far has failed to explain the scope and severity of the government cuts that have occurred, and the fact that they will hurt people living with disabilities, on fixed incomes, who cannot afford to pay for their own medical needs.

Far from simply "clarifying" the previous law, the amendments significantly reduce government assistance for essential health needs. In addition, people will be subject to a cookie-cutter approach: If their need does not fall within a pre-existing list, it will not be considered, no matter how essential for health or necessary to alleviate pain and suffering. The government cuts were made without notice, public consultation or input from health or disability rights groups.

The cutback on special needs will have a number of repercussions. On an individual basis, it will undermine people’s health, and increase pain and suffering. This is not good for society, but in addition it will increase the social burden on the health care system, as people struggle with poorly managed medical conditions and illnesses without access to the services they need.

People who had no other alternatives, who had a recommendation from their doctor and needed medication or other services to alleviate pain and suffering, or because it was essential to their health, could apply for "special needs" assistance. As a result of government amendments to the law, that access to those medications and services is now no longer available.

The Department of Community Services has suggested the cuts won’t have a big impact. But ask any person with disabilities who needs to pay higher rent to obtain allergen-free housing, or needs to meet the cost of the only medication that works but isn’t on the list of approved medications, or needs access to counselling for post-traumatic stress, and they will tell you these needs are essential, not frills.

Let’s look at the single biggest justification the government relies on in making these cuts: medical marijuana. Medical marijuana is prescribed by doctors for pain management. Patients who are permitted to use medical marijuana do so on a doctor’s recommendation, under a licence from Health Canada, where no other method or drug for pain management has worked. In denying access to medical marijuana, the government forces people back to reliance on Dilaudid and Oxycontin, drugs that have many more side effects and fewer positive individual outcomes, and have been the subject of inquiries and concerns regarding social costs and addictions. Big Pharma wins, and people with disabilities lose and the rest of us see Pharmacare costs escalate.

Don’t believe the government’s portrayal of "special needs" requests as frivolous wastes of taxpayers’ money. Under the previous regulations, needs that are "essential to health" and "necessary to alleviate pain and suffering" were recognized as "special" and people living in poverty were forced to meet a stringent test to qualify for assistance. These were needs that many of us take for granted because they are essential for health. (In an era when people are trying to decide whether to buy an iPhone 5 when they come out this fall, recipients of social assistance are not even given funding to have a basic telephone in order to look for a job.)

Why is the government cutting back on essential health services for people with disabilities? Figures cited by Community Services in a media release identify only 20 to 25 cases. The release fails to provide comparison figures for increases to other, already listed special needs and Pharmacare (formulary costs), or what we can expect in increased costs to the Pharmacare program and other health services as a result of these cutbacks. The auditor general’s report cited in the release criticizes government accounting procedures, but makes no recommendations concerning the merit of the requests and cannot be interpreted to justify these cutbacks.

Special needs assistance must be restored. When the law was introduced in 2001, special needs for people with disabilities was described as the "cornerstone" of the program. That cornerstone needs to be rebuilt, and fast, to avoid pain and suffering and protect the right to health of all Nova Scotians — including those living with disabilities.

Wayne MacNaughton is an anti-poverty activist living in Halifax.

Photo credit

Also see:

Critics slam changes to special-needs funding

Clear, Consistent Access to Special Needs Funding for People on Income Assistance

Welfare Rights Guide

Income Assistance and Nutrition: Are You Getting What You Need?

Clear, Consistent Access to Special Needs Funding for People on Income Assistance

An August 8th media release from the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services:

Clearer regulations now make it easier for income assistance clients to understand what special needs funding they can receive, and ensure funding decisions are consistent and fair province wide.

The amended Employment Support and Income Assistance Regulations Around Special Needs funding take effect today, Aug. 8.

"We know that some people on income assistance have special needs and often need help with medical issues, or even to get to work," said Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse [pictured]. "We are committed to meeting those needs, and have been increasing our budget to do so.

"At the same time, the criteria for receiving special needs funding must be clear, fair and consistent so that people are treated the same no matter where they live."

Over the past two years, the department has increased the special needs budget by 15 per cent, or about $6 million, bringing the total investment in funding to more than $45 million. These funds are intended to help income assistance clients with medical and employment-related special needs.

Over the years, the department has received special needs requests for items and services like hot tubs, gym memberships, and humming touch therapy. These were never intended to be covered under special needs, but because the regulations were not clear, about 20-25 of these requests were approved either by a caseworker or through an appeal.

The department has also received a number of special needs requests for medications and substances, such as medical marijuana. The amendments now make it clear that Community Services can only cover medically related items and services that are covered by MSI or listed on the Nova Scotia Pharmacare Formulary. This is consistent with how other provinces handle requests for medical marijuana.

The amendments are also consistent with recommendations from the auditor general who said clear systems and controls must be in place to ensure special needs funding is being spent as intended, which is to fairly meet the needs of income assistance clients.

The change only affects new applications for special needs funding received after Aug. 8. Income assistance clients now receiving special needs funding will continue to do so as long as the special need exists.

In addition to the more than $45 million invested in the Employment Support and Income Assistance Special Needs program, the department is also investing an additional $18.25 million this year to help income assistance clients and low-income Nova Scotians make ends meet. These include a 22 per cent increase per child, per month to the Nova Scotia Child Benefit, a $15 per month increase in the Income Assistance Personal Allowance, indexing the Affordable Living Tax Credit and the Poverty Reduction Credit to keep up with inflation, and allowing working income assistance clients to keep more money each month.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

Clearer regulations now make it easier for income assistance clients to understand what special needs funding they can receive, and ensure funding decisions are consistent provincewide.

Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse says the criteria for receiving Special Needs funding must be clear, fair and consistent so that people are treated the same no matter where they live.

Community Services invests more than $45 million in special needs funding annually. The funds are intended to fairly meet the special needs of all income assistance clients.

The amendments now make it clear that Community Services can only cover medically related items and services that are covered by MSI or listed on the Nova Scotia Pharmacare Formulary.

The change only affects new applications for funding received after August 8th. People now receiving special needs funding will continue to receive it as long as the need exists.

-30-

Media Contact:

Susan Tate
Community Services
902-424-4038
E-mail: tatese@gov.ns.ca

Image credit


Also see:

Employment Support and Income Assistance Policy Manual (PDF) (Chapter 6 - Special Needs, pages 106 to 150)

Employment Support and Income Assistance Act

Employment Support and Income Assistance Regulations

Assistance Appeal Regulations

Report of Residential Services: June 2008

From the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services, Services for Persons with Disabilities:

Executive Summary

In November 2006, the Department of Community Services, Services for Persons with Disabilities Program commenced a review of all residential services for persons with disabilities in Nova Scotia. Helen Patriquin, a private consultant, conducted the review under the direction of Mildred Colbourne, Director, Services for Persons with Disabilities Program, and with the assistance of program and regional staff working with persons with disabilities.

The consultant conducted site visits at various residential options and also distributed a questionnaire to other service providers. All information was documented and analyzed in conjunction with departmental resources, especially the program area and the regional offices.

The Services for Persons with Disabilities program area provides residential and other supports to three broad population groups:

1. Individuals with intellectual disabilities.
2. Individuals with long-term mental illness.
3. Individuals with physical disabilities.
   

Approximately 4,800 individuals with disabilities are provided services and support at this time. Another 400 individuals are currently awaiting services.

This report provides the findings, recommendations and a plan to address the action items, or areas of concern, that have been identified. Major themes were recognized throughout the review and are the focus of this report. These themes include:

• Leadership and direction for the program.
• Governance and leadership in the sector.
• Integration and coordination of services and supports.
• Programming and supports for individuals with disabilities.
• Quality and best practices.
• Eligibility criteria and assessment processes.
• Waiting lists and residential options.
• Human resource issues.
• Infrastructure issues.
  

This report provides a comprehensive examination of current services and supports for individuals with disabilities. It is with great gratification that we can state that because of the tremendous commitment of staff of the Department of Community Services and the many service providers throughout the sector, the system has been able to serve the needs of individuals with disabilities despite the current limitations. These limitations, however, are at a critical point and must be addressed to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to a range of services and supports that will enable them to live to their fullest potential within their communities.

The plan outlined further in this document details a long-term strategy to address the gaps in residential services and supports for persons with disabilities. These recommendations have been developed following extensive consultation and review of best practices in other jurisdictions, along with current research, such as the Kirby Report (2006). While preliminary costing has been completed at this time, further work is required to specify the funding commitment required on a per year basis to move the strategy forward.

The Department of Community Services would like to thank all of those individuals and organizations that assisted in this review through participation in a site visit, completion of questionnaires, attendance at meetings, and other input. Certainly without this level of participation we would not have been able to move forward.

To read the entire report, click here (added to the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services website on Monday, June 30th, 2008).

Also see:
Investment to Improve Quality of Life for Persons with Disabilities (June 17, 2008)