By announcing an investment of 6.6 million from Quebec in a project of 79 social housing units in Cartierville, in Montreal, the Minister of Housing, France-Élaine Duranceau, assured that thousands of other units would soon be ready to receive households affected by the housing crisis.
“This is the biggest year of shovelfuls of earth that the Société d’habitation du Québec has experienced. There has never been as much housing financed as at the moment, said the minister. We have more than 12,000 housing units currently under construction, so there will be different announcements as they are delivered. We increase the pace. My order at the SHQ is: execution. »
She also revealed that she expected an unblocking “in the coming weeks” of ongoing discussions with Ottawa regarding the transfer of funds for housing construction. The new federal housing minister, Sean Fraser, acknowledged last week that this transfer came with conditions.
“We sent our proposal last June so it has to be resolved,” said M.me Duranceau. We have had several discussions since Minister Fraser took office and he and I are really on the same page. In the coming weeks, this will be resolved. This is an area of provincial jurisdiction, so for us it was important that this money came to Quebec without conditions, so that was the content of the discussions over the last few days. »
According to the Union of Municipalities of Quebec (UMQ), Quebec would be entitled to 900 million for the construction of housing.
The minister was in the north of the island of Montreal on Monday to highlight Quebec’s participation in a 17 million project which will provide social housing to 79 households.
In addition to receiving 6.6 million in provincial funds, through the Capital Fund for ROOF, created by Quebec and the FTQ Solidarity Fund, the Interloge organization also received 2.6 million from the City of Montreal.
Interloge has acquired two buildings damaged by a fire, which will be renovated and rented again, near the future Bois-Franc REM station. Rents for studios will be $768, while the largest units, 5 and a half, will be rented for $1,175.
The organization already manages 925 social housing units which accommodate people with health problems or who have experienced homelessness, underlines Louis-Philippe Myre, general director of Interloge. He describes the organization’s contribution during this period of crisis as a “drop in an ocean of needs”.
“The Quebec government can and must act to reduce poverty and homelessness with massive investments in social housing,” he argued.
Such projects allow low-income tenants to feel secure, knowing that they will not be victims of renovations, housing repossessions or unreasonable rent increases, added Benoit Dorais, head of housing. to the executive committee of the City of Montreal.
“We are very aware of what is happening at the moment, we know that the crisis is acute and that the increase in the cost of living is tough for many families. We want and we will help these people,” promised Minister Duranceau.