Québec solidaire calls for measures to help protect seniors amid housing crisis

MONTREAL – Faced with a growing number of seniors being evicted from their homes, Québec solidaire is calling on the Legault government to broaden the scope of measures aimed at protecting them.

On Tuesday, former Québec solidaire MNA and spokesperson Françoise David, joined MNA Andrés Fontecilla and two women facing eviction threats to call for enhanced measures to protect senior tenants.

“I’ve lived there 31 years. my rent is reasonable, if I was looking for an apartment I cannot afford $1000 plus. I simply can’t. One of my positions was, ok you want to throw me out of my home studio? I will put my stuff in storage and I am willing to go live on the streets. That’s how far I was willing to go. Do you think that’s reasonable? Do you think that’s just? No. My heart is speaking to you all and it’s not just for me, there are many many elderly people who are facing evictions and what do they do? Where do they go,” said Frances Foster, one of the Montreal residents presenting who is facing potential eviction.

The current “Françoise David Law” prevents landlords from evicting seniors aged 70 and over who have occupied their dwelling for at least ten years and whose income is equivalent to the maximum threshold to qualify for social housing.

“If they have a little bit of heart, if they respect the old people as they said during the pandemic, why not protect them more,” asked David at the press conference.

On Tuesday a detailed study of Bill 31 is set to open.

Andrés Fontecilla says he will bring up again a demand made by Québec solidaire last February – to lower the age of protection to 65, the length of occupancy to five years and raise the income eligibility threshold by 50 per cent.

He argues that these measures would not cost the government a penny, and would significantly improve protection for seniors who, because of the housing crisis, are no longer able to afford housing at the same price when they are evicted.

As a result, more and more of these seniors find themselves on the streets, unable to find housing or to afford what is available.

“Since August 2023, we’ve welcomed at least 10 people aged 70 and over, and the oldest person we’ve had the honor of assisting was 81. When we opened in December 2022, it was rare to have more than one person in this age category! This is a very worrying development: elderly people who find themselves without housing are particularly vulnerable. It’s essential that the government takes this reality into account and acts accordingly,” noted Katherine McIntosh, General Manager of Refuge du Cœur de l’Île.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on October 16, 2023.