Top Stories· August 18, 2026 at 10:31 a.m.
Legal Activists Seek to Expand Welfare Benefits for Homeless in Nova Scotia
Key takeaways
- Court ruling could increase income assistance for homeless living in tents, trailers, or cars
- Standard household rate for two people could rise to $1,442 a month
- People with disabilities could qualify for up to $1,022 monthly
Activist lawyers are aiming to leverage a recent court ruling to increase income assistance levels for homeless individuals living in unconventional accommodations such as tents, trailers, or cars in Nova Scotia. The decision, made by Chief Justice Michael Wood of the province’s Court of Appeal earlier this month, could potentially raise monthly income assistance from $410 to $738 for these individuals.
The ruling came after the death of Bradley Lowe, a homeless man who died of an overdose in a tent in front of Halifax City Hall in December 2023. Vince Calderhead, the lawyer representing Lowe’s estate, stated that the decision could help people living closer to the poverty line.
According to Dalhousie Legal Aid Service, the standard household rate for two people living in a tent or trailer could rise to $1,442 a month. People with disabilities could qualify for more help and get up to $1,022 monthly.
However, Calderhead noted that it is unclear if people living in trailers will qualify for the larger payments, as they would need to prove ownership of their accommodation. People living in their cars might also qualify.
The province has yet to comment on whether it will rewrite regulations or attempt to appeal Wood’s decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Mark Culligan, a community legal worker with Dal Legal Aid, estimates that between 200 and 300 people in Nova Scotia could potentially benefit from this ruling during warmer months, but far fewer in the winter.
