December 10, 2025
56 newly acquired units in Kingston and Lawrencetown to be prioritized for NSCC students
Student Housing Nova Scotia (SHNS) is continuing its province-wide expansion with the purchase of 56 units in the Annapolis Valley.
Over the past six months, SHNS acquired 22 units in Lawrencetown located just minutes away from Nova Scotia Community College’s Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS). Earlier this week, an additional 34 units in Kingston were added to SHNS’ portfolio, positioned within a short drive from COGS and NSCC’s Annapolis Valley Campus in Middleton.
Together, these properties will help SHNS meet growing demand from students by offering reliable below-market housing to NSCC students in communities where rental options for students have long been scarce.
The purchase of these properties marks another step in SHNS’s long-term strategy to expand its portfolio to serve communities across Nova Scotia, particularly in areas where students face high rental pressure and limited supply. Students in rural communities face some of the steepest housing challenges in the province. In Lawrencetown and Kingston, housing options for students are often extremely limited. These new properties will help alleviate some of that pressure while ensuring rents remain below market rates.
“Access to reasonably priced housing is one of the greatest barriers students are facing today,” said Mitchell Archibald, Executive Director of SHNS. “With the addition of these properties, we’re creating more reliable housing options for NSCC students who might otherwise struggle to find a secure and affordable place to live.”
These acquisitions were made possible in part with support from the Province of Nova Scotia and the Community Housing Transformation Centre. Programs such as the Community Housing Acquisition Program, the Community Housing Capital Fund, and the Community Housing Growth Fund are essential for non-profit organizations like SHNS to acquire properties while preserving their affordability. You can read more about the Province’s support for this project here.
“It is as important to preserve affordable housing in this province as building new units,” said John White, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Housing. “We are grateful for our partners in the community housing sector, such as Student Housing Nova Scotia, for their ongoing commitment to providing affordable housing throughout our province.”
As SHNS grows its portfolio, some acquired properties may include tenants who are not students. We are committed to providing stability to all of its residents, and will not be displacing non-student tenants. As units become available, they will be prioritized for current and future students.
“This investment reflects Student Housing Nova Scotia’s commitment to growing our portfolio, supporting local communities, and helping students succeed,” Archibald added. “It’s a win for students, for NSCC, and for the community.”
Student Housing Nova Scotia (SHNS) is a non-profit organization that develops, provides, and advocates for housing that meets the needs of post-secondary students in Nova Scotia. Established in 1965, SHNS is one of the oldest non-profit housing providers in the Province. We build, acquire, own, and operate housing for students, and strive to create an environment that supports academic and personal success. We also lead and support research, programs, and initiatives which address the housing needs of students.