Affordable housing for health-care workers opens in Lunenburg, N.S.

The first phase of the housing for healthcare workers project at the former Wheelhouse Motel in Lunenburg opened today, August 18. (Source: Province of Nova Scotia)

A new affordable housing complex for health-care workers has opened in Lunenburg, N.S.

The Nova Scotia government says the first phase of the project, which saw the former Wheelhouse Motel converted into affordable housing for health-care workers, opened on Monday.

“Our healthcare professionals are committed and hard-working and I am thrilled to welcome them home to Lunenburg,” said Susan Corkum-Greek, MLA for Lunenburg, on behalf of Colton LeBlanc, minister of Growth and Development. “Because of this new housing, we’ll be able to fill critical healthcare positions and recruit new health professionals who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to come here.”

Nova Scotia spent $4.1 million in the first phase of the development, which features 13 residential units. The units are a mix of studio and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

Three more units will open in the fall at the complex, which is close to long-term care homes and the Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital.

The Housing Trust of Nova Scotia is overseeing the initiative.

“The housing trust is thrilled to be a key partner to the province in such a meaningful and impactful project, reaching across the province and addressing two issues that matter to Nova Scotians – health care and affordability. Our mixed income approach is designed to support an initiative like this that looks holistically at communities and what makes them healthy,” said Angela Bishop, executive director for the Housing Trust of Nova Scotia.

Future development plans for the site include six two-level, two-bedroom modular town homes, which are expected to start construction in summer 2026.

The project is part of the province’s housing for healthcare program. The government says it is spending $45 million on the project, which aims to provide health-care workers with access to safe and affordable housing.

There are similar projects underway in Guysborough, Bridgewater, Port Hawkesbury, Canso, Liverpool and New Glasgow.

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