The Todd Veinotte Show: What is Affordable Housing Today?

For decades, the standard definition of affordable housing was based on a U.S. guideline developed after World War II, which stated that housing should cost no more than 30% of a person’s income. However, this measure doesn’t always reflect today’s realities, especially for those living on fixed or limited incomes. What has long been considered ‘affordable’ is shifting, as more people define affordability based on what they can actually find that meets their needs.

In Nova Scotia, only 2% of the housing stock is community housing — far below the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) average of 7%. At AHANS, we advocate for a target closer to 20%. Countries with community housing levels near this average are far less likely to experience the kinds of housing crises we see today.

Listen to the full interview with Michael Kabalen and Todd Venoitte from City News Here.