Applications are open now for the Unity North Neighbourhood in Halifax’s North End

Compass Nova Scotia Co-operative Homes Ltd. (Compass NS) is a non-profit housing co-operative incorporated under the Co-operative Associations Act in Nova Scotia. Compass NS’s mission is to sustain, build and grow inclusive housing co-operative communities with the vision to be the housing choice for Nova Scotians who want strong governance and credible management in a thriving co-op community.

Applications are open now for their new Unity North Neighbourhood.

The new Neighbourhood will provide an additional 57 units of housing to the North End and will be available in either July or November for occupancy.

The waiting list for the Unity North Neighbourhood will be open between April 1, 2024 and April 30, 2024.

Through community consultation and partnerships, Compass NS has gathered the following information regarding Unity North Neighbourhood located in Halifax Peninsula’s North End (North End of Halifax):

The North End of Halifax, in addition to being the unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People, is also historically known for its significant Black Nova Scotian population. Many Black Nova Scotian families moved to the area after the demolition of Africville, a Black community on the shores of Bedford Basin that was dismantled by the City of Halifax in the 1960s. The North End of Halifax continues to be home to a significant population of Black Nova Scotians that have been disproportionately impacted by increased development pressure in the area and the resulting rise in housing costs. Many members of this community, for whom the North End of Halifax has been home for generations, are finding it increasingly difficult to access resources locally, including housing and employment opportunities. An increasing number of Black and Indigenous Nova Scotian individuals and families are having to move away from the North End community of Halifax due to increasing housing costs and lack of access to adequate housing.

Compass Nova Scotia wants to disrupt this trend by creating meaningful co-operative housing opportunities for local community members, including Black and Indigenous Nova Scotians who either currently reside in, or wish to return to, the North End of Halifax.