Habitat for Humanity building affordable condos in Montreal

Amid a housing crisis, Habitat for Humanity is building condos in Montreal’s Lachine, as everyone looks for affordable housing solutions.

“Everyone talks about the crisis right now, the lodging crisis, and us, we offer something very unique because we are talking here about affordable ownership,” said Shirlane Day, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Quebec.

More than 150 families applied to live in the future six-unit residence on 7th Avenue. Only a select few were chosen, including Ines Maurette, who will be moving in by the end of June when construction is completed.

“It’s emotional for me,” Maurette said. “I’m so glad and also my daughter and we were like jumping and crying. It’s a present for me. Without this opportunity, life would be harder.”

“We look at the economic situation, the family, their willingness to be partnered with us and also where they’re coming from and what kind of condition they were living,” added Day.

Maurette, along with her new neighbours, won’t need to pay a downpayment on their condos but will have to commit to 500 hours of volunteer work to be completed before they move in as part of the agreement.

“Seventy per cent of the mortgage is without interest and to do that we work with corporations and solicit people to give us money and this money, these contributions, allow us to do that,” Day said. “And now, this is our sixth place, and our intent is to do more and more.”

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Maurette also had a chance to meet her future neighbours.

“They seem to be nice people and I hope we will have a good relation to help each other,” she said. “We are in the same road, I would say.”

She’s looking forward to new beginnings with her daughter.

“The most important for me is my daughter and I want all of that for the future of my daughter. I do all of that for my daughter,” Maurette said.

Catherine Lussier, a housing advocate in Montreal, says despite Habitat for Humanity being a solution for some, there are still many in need of social housing.

“So right now, we have like 1.7 (per cent), which is the vacancy rate, which means it’s really low,” said Lussier with the group FRAPRU. “Normally it should be around three per cent. So, we are really more than a half.”