Quebec housing crisis: “We lost control”

Several buildings housed in affordable housing were demolished to make way for new construction, which was too expensive for former tenants. A four and a half to $ 1400, people can’t afford thathis observation.

The situation is similar in some cities in Quebec, underlined Cédric Dussault, spokesman for the Regroupement of Quebec housing committees and tenant associations (RCLALQ).

What we are currently experiencing has not yet been done. In all regions, we have problems.

” Across Quebec, there is a shortage, or even almost total absence, of affordable housing. “

In Sherbrooke, the average vacancy rate is 0.9%. This is lower than the Quebec average for cities with more than 10,000 inhabitants (2.5%), but more than many other cities.

In a balanced market, the vacancy rate should be around 3%.

In recent years, there has been an increase in evictions and housing repossessions, Mr. Dussault reports, even in regions that have not yet experienced this type of problem and where there is no housing committee to help those affected. tenant.

Needs have exploded outside the city centers and resources are not there, neither the advocacy groups nor the help of the municipality, he explains. We never experienced that.

This was confirmed by Amélie Pelland, coordinator and social worker at Action-Logement Lanaudière, who has noticed the deterioration of the situation for almost three years.

While his organization handles a dozen cases a year, in 2021 he treated a hundred. This year, there have been approximately fifty cases of significant housing recovery or abusive rent increases.

" Previously, what we had were cases of unsanitary conditions. Now people are no longer calling about it. They are afraid of losing their hovel. "

People are anxious, in shock, Ms. explains. Pelland. They are afraid of losing their homes because they know very well that they will never be able to find anyone else.

Furthermore, the cases listed are a minority, recalls Yannick Baumann, a lecturer in the Department of Geography at the University of Montreal. A member of the Parc-Extension Action Committee (CAPE), he is active in supporting evicted tenants in this area of ​​Montreal.

From a dozen complaints for hiring or dismissal in 2017, it became more than thirty in 2021, he said. But many people know nothing about CAPE. We know that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

What do homeless people do?

Some rent new housing that is too expensive for their income. We are seeing more and more tenants allocating more than half of their income to rent, explains Cédric Dussault. But when we spend more than 30% on rent, we are meeting our basic needs. Then, they have to go to food banks and self-help groups for their other needs.

Requests for help from food banks have increased in recent years.

Others rent accommodation that is inadequate, too small or unclean, or resign themselves to moving away from downtown Montreal.

Thus, households leaving Parc-Extension go to neighborhoods such as Saint-Michel, Rivière-des-Prairies or Anjou, where there are fewer local services and access to public transport is more difficult, he said. Yannick Baumann.

They are forced to move to more peripheral areas, less efficient service, where there are fewer services and where access to public transport is more difficult.regrets Xavier Leloup, professor at the INRS Urbanization Culture Society Center.

" They will have to make trade-offs and drop some standards. It can be size, quality or location. "

Others have simply lost their homes.

Those with social networks will go to friends or family members, to those who can return their children, and the unfortunate will sleep in their cars. Homelessness is growing, but it is hiddenobservation by Amélie Pelland.

Human dramas

This increase in homelessness is of great concern to the community.

[Avec l’explosion du coût des loyers]there are a series of households or unmarried people who find themselves homeless, thinks Xavier Leloup. He was afraid to see the proliferation of large camps, such as those living in the city over the past two summers.

Cédric Dussault also thinks that there will be more camps throughout Quebec.

" We were almost at the bottom of the barrel. Tenants have no access. "

In human dramas hiding behind these situations.

Uncertainty about housing, it increases the anxiety of people with more fragile mental healthstorytelling by Mario Mercier.

" There are people who experience completely impossible situations, which make us look like the Third World. These are misfortunes and sufferings that people do not see. "

The situation is particularly difficult for fathers and mothers, who must ensure the welfare of their children, he believes. People are stable, but if the situation continues to worsen, there will be those who will not reach out.

A fact observed by Amélie Pelland in Lanaudière. If a family becomes homeless and finds themselves without a fixed residence, it can be reported to the Department of Juvenile Protection and there is a risk that the children will be removed from it.he says.

Parents are considered irresponsible if they are homeless, Ms. Pelland. At the current amount of rent, you wonder if you need to earn $ 100,000 a year to raise children.she quips.

In most markets, the vacancy rate for three-bedroom units is even lower than for other types of housing, and rents are higher.

The Quebec government announced in May that it would allocate $ 77.8 million to help tenant households, primarily through rent supplements.

For community housing organizations, however, this is not enough. They aim to hear this summer to get long-term measures, including mandatory rent control, measures to prevent evictions and construction of social housing.