Ottawa and Nova Scotia are teaming up to build 222 new public rental-housing units in the province.

The feds, through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and province will invest a total of $83.2 million in projects that will serve 522 families, individuals and low-income seniors, the two governments announced Wednesday. The Nova Scotia government will provide $58.8 million in funding and Ottawa will kick in $24.4 million.

Some of the money is coming through the Canada-Nova Scotia National Housing Strategy agreement, a 10-year deal designed to reduce homelessness. Other provinces and territories have signed similar agreements with Ottawa.

Plans call for the new 222 Nova Scotia units to be built in Bridgewater, Kentville, Truro, Cape Breton and Halifax. The Nova Scotia government also announced pilot projects designed to create more options and housing opportunities on existing properties..

The pilot projects will also attempt to develop mixed-income communities and transfer some public housing units to community-based organizations and/or resident ownership.

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