BILL NO. 182
(as introduced)
1st Session, 65th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
4 Charles III, 2025
Private Member's Public Bill
Income Assistance for the Unhoused Act
Lina Hamid
Fairview–Clayton Park
First Reading: October 3, 2025
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
Explanatory Note
This Bill provides that assistance to persons in need may not be reduced on the basis of the person not living in owned or rented accommodation.
An Act to Amend Chapter 27
of the Acts of 2000,
the Employment Support and Income Assistance Act,
Respecting Equal Support for the Unhoused
Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:
1 This Act may be cited as the Income Assistance for the Unhoused Act.
2 Chapter 27 of the Acts of 2000, the Employment Support and Income Assistance Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 3 the following Section:
- 3A This Act is binding on the Crown in right of the Province.
3 Chapter 27 of the Acts of 2000 is further amended by adding immediately after Section 9 the following Section:
- 9A (1) Subject to subsection (2), assistance provided under this Act may not be reduced on the basis that the person who has applied for or received assistance is not living in an accommodation owned by the person, renting, boarding or otherwise paying for lodging.
(2) The money required for the purpose of subsection (1) must be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.
4 This Act has effect on and after January 1, 2026.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2025 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created October 3, 2025. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
