Please note: due to such a large number of applications, we are pausing to evaluate those we have already. Should there be room after the initial applications are evaluated, we will reopen applications.
Amherst, Nova Scotia – Applications are now open for a new housing community called The Groves at Hillsdale, located on Church Street in Amherst, Nova Scotia. United Way Maritimes, The River Philip Foundation and The Shaw Group have partnered on this clustered residential community of compact, well-built homes for rent and sale. The Town of Amherst contributed significantly to support infrastructure and rezoning to make the project a reality. The Groves at Hillsdale is designed to fill growing gaps in the missing middle of housing options, where homeownership opportunities for families and individuals with stable incomes (avg. annual Amherst area household income – $63,000) are in extremely short supply.
“In today’s traditional housing market, many families and individuals earning a steady income are still struggling to find a home they can afford to own – and certainly not one that is move-in ready,” said Sara Napier, President and CEO of United Way Maritimes. “Many families are also spending much more than 30% of income on rent, for a unit that’s unsuitable, and often end up struggling to make ends meet or save for their future.”
There will be 47 residential units in total, the bulk of which will be available for sale through a modified shared-equity homeownership model, with the remainder available at affordable monthly rents. Rentals will be targeted for households where the income level allows for no more than 30% of income to be spent on rent.
Supported by its team in Colchester/Cumberland, United Way Maritimes will be the operator of this community, where learning, gathering and connectedness of homeowners and residents will be fostered. “This marks the third active housing project under our Affordable Housing Division”, added Napier. “We’re working hard to offer a variety of affordable solutions that work for groups of residents seeking the opportunity for community living, with the objective of ensuring the units remain affordable well into the future.” The community will be managed by United Way Maritimes, with experienced staff designing and administering the application process, facilitating the sale of units, and ensuring the responsible upkeep and maintenance of the entire community.
The units are currently under construction by The Shaw Group, with the expectation that 22 homes will be ready for occupancy in late Spring/early Summer.
The project partners first came together to create a vision for this project in late 2023. The River Philip Foundation, The Shaw Group, and United Way Maritimes were aligned on several common objectives. Those included a commitment to the communities of Atlantic Canada, a desire to build an innovative housing solution to address rural needs, to have a positive impact on rural economic stability, and to improve population health and wellbeing – all as a catalyst for community prosperity and growth.
Applications for the first 12 rentals and 10 homeownership units are being accepted through United Way Colchester & Cumberland now, and potential buyers will then follow up with mortgage lending partner Mosaik Credit Union to apply for a mortgage.
This housing approach is different from traditional market-based homeownership, is especially suited to rural markets, and is designed to be maintained as affordable over the long term. United Way will invest and retain an average of 25% of the sale price, basically contributing the down payment, reducing the overall home purchase price, and retaining a proportional stake in the home. Upon resale of the home, United Way retains a portion of the proceeds to reinvest in the unit to maintain relative affordability for the next home buyer.
Together with residents, United Way Maritimes will determine how to best support their goals, offering workshops on subjects such as home repair, saving for educational pursuits, growing healthy food, and other initiatives that benefit the wider community.
Interested buyers and renters are invited to visit the homeownership or rental properties pages to indicate their interest in applying or by emailing TheGrovesAtHillsdale@unitedwaymaritimes.ca.
Additional Information:
- All 47 units are either 1 or 2 bedrooms. Rentals range in size from 394 – 592 sq ft, while units available for purchase range in size from 592-856 sq ft. Twenty-two units are expected to be ready for occupancy in late Spring 2025.
- Community will have 4 fully and 4 partially accessible homes.
- In total 28 residential homes will be available for sale with energy efficient appliances included.
- The community is based on bare land condo model where homeowners pay a small monthly condo fee ($120) to cover things like the maintenance of the common areas and parking lots and garbage removal. It ensures the community will be taken care of for years to come.
- Eligible homeowners will require a gross annual household income of between $50,000 and $80,000, and to meet additional criteria including but not limited to current place of employment or residence and stability of income.
- Eligible homeowners must also be approved for a mortgage of between approximately $127,000 and $182,000 (based on 4.95% interest rate) through Mosaik Credit Union, with locations in Amherst, Truro and Pugwash, with no downpayment required.
- 19 rental units available to eligible tenants at $580-708 per month + utilities for a 1-bedroom and $884 per month + utilities for a 2-bedroom.
- Eligibility for rental units will require a gross annual household income of between $25,000 and $45,000, and meeting additional criteria including but not limited to current place of residence and stability of income.
- Remaining 25 units are either under construction off-site or will be stick-built on-site over the next 18 months.
To learn more about homeownership and eligibility for rentals, visit the links below:
About United Way Maritimes:
United Way Colchester & Cumberland Counties is a proud part of United Way Maritimes – a donor-funded regional impact organization that brings together donors, volunteers, partners, community organizations and government to create lasting social change in our communities. With dedicated local teams serving central and southwestern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and mainland Nova Scotia; United Way Maritimes is changing lives by providing funding to more than130 community-based organizations, creating solutions, partnering with others, and advocating for change.
We have a vested interest in addressing affordable housing. We have a long history of engaging with stakeholders, including those experiencing marginalization, service providers, business leaders and government officials. We also have experience leading housing symposiums, developing an affordable housing community land trust, sitting on advisory boards and committees and more. With the unification of seven United Ways to become United Way Maritimes, we have recently established an Affordable Housing Division. The Affordable Housing Division is focused on providing sustainable, non-market affordable housing, using our own unique expertise to join others helping to address the growing housing crisis.
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Flemming
sarah.flemming@unitedwaymaritimes.ca