Over the next six years, Quebec will invest more than $ 2 billion to renovate low-rental housing in poor condition across the province, and about $ 279 million to build more than 3,000 social housing units.
More than 847 million will also provide additional assistance to beneficiaries of the Housing Allowance program.
These amounts will come from the Canada-Quebec housing agreement, signed in 2018. The government of François Legault had not yet announced its priorities for the use of these amounts, while the issue of affordable housing has been raised. one of the major issues of the last municipal elections in Quebec.
“Today, I am proud to announce that our government intends to invest in the construction of social housing, in direct support for tenants and in the renovation of low-cost housing,” said the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing , Andrée Laforest, by press release.
Remember that 655 HLMs in Quebec, where 25,000 households live, are rated D and E because of their dilapidation.
Recently, the Federation of low-rental housing tenants of Quebec (FLHLMQ) launched a campaign asking the government to invest $ 2.2 billion for the renovation of these buildings.
Last May, Quebec had already announced a sum of 100 million over three years to rehabilitate ten Montreal low-rent housing where housing is barricaded due to their dilapidation.
Moreover, Minister Laforest was meeting this morning with the new mayoress of Longueuil, Catherine Fournier. Mme Fournier intended to discuss his request for his city to obtain a right of first refusal, which would give it priority for the acquisition of land or buildings that could be used for the development of social or affordable housing.
“The right of pre-emption for Longueuil would make things much easier, because land is very rare here, is very strategic, buildings could be reconverted, so if the City obtained this power, it would facilitate work with our community developers”, underlined Catherine Fournier, before her meeting with the Minister.