Close to 900 affordable housing units inaugurated in Montreal

The Governments of Canada and Quebec, as well as the City of Montreal and other partners inaugurated 893 social and affordable housing units on Friday.

The buildings, some of which are already completed with others still underway, represent an investment of nearly $340 million from all three levels of government.

According to Bâtir son quartier, these units will provide affordable rent prices in a sustainable way, with lower and slower increases compared the private market.

“I’ve often said it: we have to innovate to build more and better, especially in the context of a housing crisis,” said Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau. “This collaboration with Bâtir son quartier and its partners is further proof that our government is taking concrete action, in tandem with municipalities and local stakeholders, to better house Quebecers living on low and modest incomes.”

The Canadian government invested $57.7 million, the Quebec government pledged $228.7 million, and the City of Montreal provided $52.8 million.

More than half of the 893 units will be able to benefit from the Société d’habitation du Québec’s Quebec Rent Supplement Program (SHQ) – which allows them to pay 25 per cent of their income towards housing.

The additional assistance is 90 per cent covered by the SHQ and 10 per cent will covered by the City of Montreal.

“At a time when the City of Montreal is currently experiencing a housing crisis, to which the homelessness crisis is directly linked, the realization of these projects relieves the pressing needs faced by the vulnerable population,” said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante. “Thanks to these projects, more than 1,000 people will be sheltered from the streets and will be able to live in dignified and safe conditions.”

The housing projects include the Heritage Housing in Pointe Saint-Charles, Coopérative d’habitation de la Pointe Amicale, LoReli Residence, Habitations Libr’Elles, Logifem, Maison des RebElles, Le Trapèze housing cooperative, Espace la Traversée-Soeurs-de-Sainte-Anne, Laurentian Housing Co-operative, OSHA Access Lodge Phase 7, Gleaning House, and Mission Old Brewery.

“This is excellent news to meet the needs in the southwest of Montreal and throughout the island,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly. “I thank the partners involved in carrying out these important projects for our community, which will make a real difference in the daily lives of these people. Together, we are building a generation of new homes that we can all be proud of.”