New rooming house in the Plateau

The governments of Quebec and Canada and the City of Montreal inaugurated the new Rachel Frontenac rooming house on the Plateau on Monday.

The 28-room project is intended for people with mental health needs including women and children fleeing violence, people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, refugees, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable population groups.

Located at 2551 Rachel East, the project was developed by Habitation Montréal, and offers several services to vulnerable individuals, including accompaniment and community support.

“Homes like Maison Rachel enable the most vulnerable among us to regain the stability of a home where, for many, the alternative would be a shelter or a camp. It’s a tool for preserving one’s dignity in the midst of a housing crisis that is hitting the most vulnerable hardest. At OHM, we hope that the actions of the various levels of government will make it possible to carry out this type of project once again, given the crying need,” said Claire Garnier, Secretary of Habitation Montréal’s Board of Directors.

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The project required an overall investment of $5.4 million.

The City of Montreal and the OSBL Habitation Montréal contributed $2.7 million to the project. An investment of $820,912 came from the Government of Canada, via the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) as part of the Rapid Rehousing Initiative (RRHI) for Large Cities.

“Everyone deserves a safe and affordable home. People with mental health problems who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Montreal will have more options for their social reintegration thanks to this renovation,” said Steven Guilbeault, the Federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change and MP for Laurier-Sainte-Marie.

The Quebec government will also allocate a rent supplement, enabling future residents to pay only 25 per cent of their income for housing.

“Our government not only supports the construction of new housing, but also ensures that it remains affordable,” added France-Élaine Duranceau, the Quebec Minister responsible for Housing.

The Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) will provide $820,912 in funding, and the Caisse d’économie solidaire Desjardins de Montréal will grant a $1 million mortgage.