Nova Scotia mother fights for son's legacy regarding tent resident benefits

Jackie Lowe is continuing a legal and political fight initiated by her late son, Bradley Lowe, to secure enhanced income assistance for unhoused individuals living in tents in Nova Scotia. Bradley Lowe, who died in 2023, had argued that he was eligible for the $950 disability supplement rather than the $380 standard rate for those without a home.

On August 5, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal ruled that a tent qualifies as “accommodation,” granting people sleeping rough eligibility for enhanced support. However, the provincial government responded by amending regulations to redefine housing as a self-contained unit or a room in a lodging house, effectively excluding tent residents from the ruling’s benefits.

In response to these legislative changes, the Nova Scotia NDP has introduced three housing-related bills, including one named “Bradley’s Law.” The proposed legislation aims to overturn the province’s regulatory changes and ensure that financial support is accessible to individuals regardless of their housing status.