Quebec filed Thursday, earlier than usual, an action plan of nearly $ 78 million to help households seeking housing as the transition period approaches. The Popular Action Front in Urban Redevelopment (FRAPRU), however, is calling on the Legault government to act “upstream” to respond to a “deeper and deeper” housing crisis.
Most of the 77.8 million planned forJuly 1 operation will be allocated to rent supplements that will allow hundreds of households to occupy private housing in the market by paying rent equal to 25% of their income, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing specified in a press release .
So the government said it was ready to allocate $ 75.8 million to help more than 2,200 households. At least 500 units are reserved for people facing homelessness, and another 100 for female victims of domestic violence.
The rent supplement program also provides a $ 2 million budget envelope for municipalities that want to participate in it by offering, for example, temporary accommodation and emergency storage of goods. The sum will also help housing offices wishing to set up a housing search assistance service (SARL).
In a press release, Quebec’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Andrée Laforest, said he wanted that nothing goes on the streetit said it expects an increase in the number of households in need of assistance in finding housing.
” This year, with the evolution of the rental market caused by pandemic and inflation, we expect that more people will need help with their search or even financial support. “
It is not quite a question of money as the quality measures put in placereaction of the spokesperson for the Popular Action Front on Urban Redevelopment, Véronique Laflamme, in an interview with ICI RDI.
Last year, less than 250 emergency rent supplements out of the 1,500 announced were given because the target beneficiaries were unaware of their existence, he said.
The government indicated that SHQ will launch an advertising campaign on May 29 to publicize the services it offers to household tenants in need of assistance finding housing.
The good newsadded Ms. Laflamme, the government will empower housing offices to directly set up emergency assistance services when their municipality refuses to do so.
Quebec also recently enhanced its Housing Allowance program, intended for tenants. The maximum financial aid is raised from $ 80 to $ 100 per month. In the coming months, the maximum monthly amount will increase to $ 150, and eligible clients will expand.
Last year, the government waited until June 11 to announce improvements to its programs, even as it struggled to acknowledge the existence of the housing crisis.
An announcement that “almost nothing changes” for Montreal
The vice president of the City of Montreal executive committee and responsible for housing, Benois Dorais, is seen as a good news the government’s decision to advance its announcement and increase the amounts allocated to help citizens who are having difficulty renting.
The announcement is more for municipalities that do not yet have assistance services for their citizens in view of July 1, which is not the case for the metropolis, he underlined on the airwaves of 15-18at the HERE Premiere. For Montreal, it hardly changes anythinghe said.
” The Quebec government is investing 2 million for all of Quebec, and Montreal is already investing 3.5 [millions] for its own citizens. “
The City estimates that 10% to 20% more Montrealers will need help and expects 1,200 calls, Mr. Dorais said, inviting citizens to dial 311. We are ready […] and well honedand the City’s partners as well, he said.
Promoting an increase in the supply of social and communal housing, he pointed out that in Montreal, it is not so much the number of available units that poses the problem but the number of affordable units.
An observation shared by FRAPRU. Downtown housing at $ 2000 or $ 3000 is completely inaccessible for the common mansaid Ms. Laflamme.
A “deeper and deeper” housing crisis
Québec’s new action plan fits in the context of the housing shortage prevalent in some regions of Québec. Vacancy housing rates are historically low throughout Quebec.
In April, Minister Laforest acknowledged for the first time that there was a housing crisis in some regions of the province.
For three years, we have seen the situation worsen; we have a growing number of household tenants who are struggling around 1eh July and what we see is a long time so the crisis is getting deeper and deeperunderlined the speaker of FRAPRUgiving as an example the regions of Bas-Saint-Laurent, Estrie, Mauricie and Center-du Québec. Etche pointed out.
People are very worriedhe said to see. And this year, small municipalities are newly affected, which is why we are concerned about the large number of homeless tenants.he warned.
Véronique Laflamme called for a plan upstream to be avoided the disaster on July 1 that we have at presentespecially through measures to counteract the fraudulent dismissal and investment in social, cooperative and non-profit housing.
” We ask the government to come together and intervene by adopting not only a plan for July 1, but a real plan against the housing crisis and no longer be able to wait for the election campaign. “
Investments are made in dribs and drabsMs. regrets. Laflamme. Nearly 40,000 households are waiting for subsidized housing in Quebeche pointed out.
The ministry indicates in part that, since 2018, nearly 8,000 social and affordable housing units have been built or initiated.
He also added that Minister Laforest wants to file a bill to prevent the sale of NPO housing for other purposes, give all municipalities the right to first refusal and better protect senior tenants and amend clause F of leases.
This clause states that the landlord can increase the rent price without limit if the building was constructed less than 5 years ago.
Source: Radio-Canada
