DASH Fund Wins Again at SMU

March 10, 2025

Students at Saint Mary’s University Approve DASH Fund, As Momentum Grows in Province-Wide Campaign for Affordable Student Housing

Last week, students at Saint Mary’s University (SMU) voted to approve the Developing Affordable Student Housing (DASH) Fund, making SMU the second campus to join this growing initiative to expand affordable student housing across Nova Scotia.

“This is another major victory for students and for the future of non-profit housing in Nova Scotia,” said Sadie McAlear, DASH Fund Campaign Manager. “With SMU students on board, we are building real momentum toward creating more secure and affordable housing for students across the province.”

Beginning this Fall, students at Saint Mary’s will contribute $5 per semester through their student fees to support housing projects for SMU students. This builds on the success of the DASH Fund campaign at Acadia University, where students approved the initiative last month.

“SMU students understand how critical housing affordability is, and their support for the DASH Fund demonstrates their willingness to be part of the solution,” said Prajwal Shetty, Vice President Advocacy of the Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association and Chair of Student’s Nova Scotia. “This initiative has the potential to make a real difference for future students.”

“Our success at SMU marks another major milestone in our province-wide campaign, and is a clear indication that students across Nova Scotia believe in our vision and our plan for a more affordable future,” said Mitchell Archibald, Executive Director of Student Housing Nova Scotia. 

The DASH Fund continues to gain momentum across the province. We are having ongoing discussions with various student unions and post-secondary institutions across the province, and we look forward to working with them to bring the DASH Fund to their campuses.

Quick Facts

  • The DASH Fund is an innovative approach to addressing housing availability and affordability for students. Funded by small contributions from each student, the DASH Fund supports the construction and acquisition of housing for students in Nova Scotia by contributing the upfront capital required to initiate housing projects.
  • In the recent Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association (SMUSA) election, students were given the opportunity to vote in favour of adding $5 per semester to student fees to support the fund.
  • With the majority of students voting in favour, the DASH Fund contribution will become part of the annual student fees for all SMU students beginning in Fall 2025.
  • Contributions from SMU students will amount to $50,000 per year, which can fund more than $5 million in housing projects over five years.
  • The DASH Fund was first approved by Acadia students in February 2025. With our success at Acadia and Saint Mary’s, more than 15% of post-secondary students in Nova Scotia will be contributing to the fund.

For more information about the DASH Fund, visit www.dashfund.ca.

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LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We work and live in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet), and Passamaquoddy Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1726.

The treaties did not deal with the surrender of lands and resources but in fact, recognized Mi’kmaq and Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.

Student Housing Nova Scotia acknowledges the Peace & Friendship Treaties signed in this Territory and recognizes that we are all Treaty People.

We also acknowledge that people of African descent have been in Nova Scotia for over 400 years, and we honour and offer gratitude to those ancestors of African descent who came before us to this land.