Lunenburg, NS – August 22, 2025 – In a significant step to address the housing crisis impacting health-care recruitment, the Nova Scotia government has opened the first phase of a dedicated housing project for health-care workers in the South Shore. The initiative, centered at the former Wheelhouse Motel in Lunenburg, aims to alleviate the region’s housing shortage and support the retention of essential medical staff. The project, part of the province’s broader housing for health-care initiative, underscores a strategic effort to attract professionals to areas where affordable housing is scarce.
A Targeted Solution for Health-Care Workers
Announced on August 18, 2025, the first phase of the project includes 13 rental units, comprising a mix of studio apartments and one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. The province has invested $4.1 million so far to convert the former motel into mixedម
System: mixed-income housing, with an additional $1.5 million allocated for its purchase and $1.8 million for renovations and modular townhouses. Susan Corkum-Greek, the Member of the Legislature for Lunenburg, emphasized the project’s importance, stating, “This initiative will allow us to recruit health staff who wouldn’t have otherwise come to the area because of the difficulty in finding homes.”
The Housing Trust of Nova Scotia is overseeing the rental units and managing applications, ensuring that at least one member of each household qualifies as an eligible health professional. The units are rented at market rates, but tenants may receive a small rebate if rent exceeds 30% of their combined household income, making the housing more accessible for low- and moderate-income workers.
Addressing a Regional Crisis
The South Shore, alongside communities like Sydney, Guysborough, Antigonish, Inverness, Colchester, and Cumberland, has been identified as a region in acute need of housing for health-care workers. The lack of affordable housing has been a significant barrier to attracting and retaining medical professionals, particularly outside the Halifax Regional Municipality. “We need more professionals for our health-care system, and that means attracting people from across Canada and around the world to our province,” said Health Minister Michelle Thompson in 2023, highlighting the strategic importance of such housing initiatives.
The Lunenburg project is the first of its kind under a $20-million provincial investment announced in 2023 to provide housing for health-care workers. The province plans to open three additional apartment units at the site this fall, further expanding capacity. This follows the successful opening of an eight-unit housing complex for health-care workers in Guysborough County in July 2025, located near the Guysborough Memorial Hospital.
Broader Context and Future Implications
Nova Scotia’s housing crunch is part of a larger challenge facing many Canadian regions, where rising costs and limited availability have made it difficult for essential workers to settle in rural and semi-rural areas. The province’s efforts extend beyond Lunenburg, with plans to address housing shortages in other high-need communities. Additionally, Nova Scotia has committed nearly $22 million to sustainable development and energy efficiency programs, including a $6.4-million pilot to encourage net-zero affordable housing construction, signaling a broader push for long-term housing solutions.
The Wheelhouse Motel project not only provides immediate relief but also sets a precedent for future initiatives. By prioritizing health-care workers for these units, with skilled trades professionals as secondary beneficiaries, the province aims to stabilize its health-care workforce while addressing systemic housing challenges. Mayor David Mitchell of Bridgewater noted in 2023 that such projects, even if temporary, “buy us some time” to recruit and retain critical health practitioners.
Looking Ahead
As the province moves forward with the second phase of the Lunenburg project and explores similar initiatives elsewhere, the focus remains on balancing immediate housing needs with long-term sustainability goals. The success of the Wheelhouse Motel conversion could serve as a model for other regions grappling with similar shortages, ensuring that health-care workers have viable housing options to support their critical roles in Nova Scotia’s communities.
For more details on the housing for health-care initiative, visit novascotia.ca or bchousing.ca.