“2022 is one of the worst years” since the turn of the 2000s for tenant households, worries the Popular Action Front in Urban Redevelopment (FRAPRU). More than 600 households still have no roof over their heads and are supported by an aid service, including nearly 120 in Montreal and 150 in Drummondville.
Posted at 11:02
“We have a 1er difficult July in several regions of Quebec. And that number is the tip of the iceberg. It’s a pale reflection of reality, “said FRAPRU spokesperson Véronique Laflamme on Saturday, whose organization made its national report in the morning for a 22e consecutive year.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
FRAPRU spokesperson, Véronique Laflamme
In total, the Action Front estimates that at least 4,000 households have requested help from municipal authorities to find housing this year. Of the number, at least 621 of them have still not found, a significant increase compared to last year. At the same date in 2021, there were about 500. In fact, never since 2002 such a high figure had been reached.
If in Montreal, 118 households who have still not found housing are supported, this figure is even higher in Drummondville, where there are 135. This is the first time that this city in the Centre-du-Québec region has won the prize list in over 20 years. Last year, there were only 75, a sign that the housing crisis is spreading more and more beyond the big cities, according to FRAPRU.
In Sherbrooke, 50 households are still homeless. In Quebec, we are talking about 55, in Laval 15, in Granby 20, in Cowansville 23, and in Trois-Rivières 24. There are also 10 homeless households in Rimouski, 10 others in Joliette as well as Châteauguay, and a fortnight in Saint-Hyacinthe. The city of Saguenay has at least 13 tenant households without a lease, while in Gatineau it is at least 40.
These people are mostly with relatives, in temporary situations, or accompanied by municipalities, or even by the Red Cross. About sixty are however housed in emergency. And it could continue to increase in the coming days.
Véronique Laflamme, FRAPRU spokesperson
His group is concerned about the “speed with which rental prices are rising”, but also about the scarcity of affordable housing units. “The housing crisis is so deep that we see that it takes longer and longer before people are rehoused. We fear that these households will end up falling into the cracks, ”illustrated the spokesperson.
Quebec called for help
FRAPRU asks the Government of Quebec to maintain the assistance measures for the 1er July in place “until everyone is housed”, at least, and to improve the emergency aid program. The organization also demands that “all the political parties in the running for the October 3 elections” undertake to set up structural measures to end the crisis, “including a major project of 50,000 social housing units in different forms in five years, as well as a reinforcement of the legal protection of tenants and the stock of rental housing which is still affordable and which is rapidly crumbling”.
Mme Laflamme also wants to see a clear commitment from all parties to “compulsory control of all private rents, supported by a rent registry,” as well as an amendment to the Civil Code to better protect tenants from the most vulnerable. Eventually, his organization hopes to see a comprehensive housing policy based on “recognition of the right to housing”.
Called to react, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Andrée Laforest, acknowledged on Saturday that “the 1er July was indeed very busy for our teams”. “We must continue to put in place structuring measures in the short, medium and long term. The move action plan we have put in place has been effective. No one slept on the street, ”she said, however.
“The work of the housing offices will continue for some time yet. The teams are available 7 days a week until July 18, so if you are in need, do not hesitate to contact them. We have announced more than 2 billion to renovate and build social and affordable housing since 2018. If previous governments had invested as much as us, we would not be here,” insisted Ms.me Laforest.