Students Nova Scotia Commends Student COVID-19 Grant
Students Nova Scotia Commends Student COVID-19 Grant
February 16, 2022
For Immediate Release
Halifax, NS - Today, the Government of Nova Scotia announced a one-time COVID-19 grant for over 11,000 college and university students across Nova Scotia. This non-repayable grant will provide $875 to each Nova Scotia Student Assistance program borrower, acknowledging the continued financial pressures upon students as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Students Nova Scotia highlighted the need for the creation of a one-time student grant during our Advocacy Week this past November, and are pleased to see this investment in students announced today.
“We know that the cost of education was a huge upfront barrier to postsecondary access for many Nova Scotians even prior to the pandemic,” says Ben Fairhurst, Chair of Students Nova Scotia. “However, the rising costs of housing, food, tuition and many other expenses have only furthered this affordability crisis over the past two years. This grant will support students with the greatest financial need during this particularly challenging time.”
Indeed, postsecondary students are increasingly struggling to afford steep housing costs and climbing educational expenses. A 2021 report by the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations found that nearly ⅔ of students across the country reported the pandemic had made affording postsecondary education more difficult, and 65% worried about their ability to pay living expenses in Fall 2021. These concerns are even more pressing in Nova Scotia, where historic vacancy rates and rising housing costs across all areas of the province have led many students to select accommodations outside of their price range or at a larger distance from campus (further elevating travel costs).
These rising pressures, coupled with diminished financial resources two years into the pandemic, has led to a snowball effect for many students across the province.
“Youth employment was particularly hard-hit at the beginning of the pandemic, and we know that many students rely upon income from summer employment to finance their education,” said Lydia Houck, Executive Director of Students Nova Scotia. “Many students reported taking on additional debt or using savings in order to cover tuition and housing costs throughout the current academic year, which makes the introduction of additional upfront, needs-based aid in the short term a welcome measure at this critical point in time.”
The COVID-19 Grant will automatically be deposited into eligible students’ bank accounts in March 2022.
Students Nova Scotia is the province’s largest student advocacy organization, representing over 20,000 postsecondary students across the province. StudentsNS has advocated for the creation of a one-time COVID Response Grant and are pleased to see today’s announcement.
For more information, contact:
Lydia Houck
StudentsNS Executive Director
(902) 476-2367