The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, and Andrée Laforest, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, are proud to announce that 1,458 social and affordable housing units, divided into 79 projects, will be built by the end of 2022 thanks to nearly $338 million in funding as part of the second Canada-Quebec agreement under the Rapid Housing Initiative.
The units are intended for people with special housing needs, such as women and children who are victims of conjugal or family violence, seniors, Indigenous people, those dealing with mental health issues or substance abuse, people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, and people with disabilities.
The two agreements under the Rapid Housing Initiative combined represent a total investment of about $517 million. Since January 2021, close to 3,000 social and affordable housing units have been created according to Quebec’s recognized building standards for Quebecers in need.
Quotes:
“Every Quebecer deserves the peace of mind that comes with having a home. The funding announced today will greatly help those who need it most. These projects will quickly provide new housing units to those who are most vulnerable in Quebec. It is through our Rapid Housing Initiative that we are working to ensure that everybody has a safe and affordable place to call home.”
“Creating housing rapidly to address Québec’s housing crisis is a priority for our Government. Today’s announcement is good news for the people of Québec. This funding is part of our commitment to addressing severe housing needs, both here in Québec, and across the country. It will provide immediate support to create safe and stable housing to thousands of vulnerable individuals and families.”
“Housing needs are significant in major cities, but also regionally. More than 1,400 new social and affordable housing units will be built over the coming year. We are therefore continuing to increase the housing supply across Quebec. Also, thanks to our government, eligible renters will only have to pay 25% of their income to live in these housing units. This represents an investment of up to $128 million. The projects will also allow us to quickly offer a better quality of life to Quebecers in need.”
Quick facts:
The second Canada – Quebec agreement under the Rapid Housing Initiative:
supports the creation of new permanent affordable housing units;
funds the construction of new rental housing, the acquisition of land, and the conversion or rehabilitation of existing buildings to create affordable housing units;
is aimed at ensuring that all funds are committed as soon as possible so that units are available within 12 months following the signing of the agreements, unless otherwise agreed.
The Government of Quebec is also committed to funding the rent supplements for certain projects. With this assistance, eligible tenants will pay only 25% of their income for housing.
As a result of the success of the Rapid Housing Initiative, an additional $1.5 billion in federal investment was announced in the 2021 budget, including $500 million in funding for the cities component and $1 billion in funding for the projects component.
The Rapid Housing Initiative is a $2.5 billion program that will quickly create over 10,000 new affordable homes for Canadians who need it most. New investments under the RHI will create thousands of jobs in the housing and construction sector, grow the middle class, and build back stronger communities, while getting us closer to our goal of eliminating chronic homelessness in Canada.
The RHI takes a human rights-based approach to housing, serving people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and others who are among the most vulnerable, including: women and children fleeing domestic violence, seniors, young adults, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, people dealing with mental health and addiction issues, veterans, LGBTQ2+, racialized groups, Black Canadians, and recent immigrants or refugees.
Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10-year, $72 billion plan that will give more Canadians a place to call home — this includes more than $13 billion committed through the 2020 Fall Economic Statement.
About Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
As Canada’s authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC’s aim is that, by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home that they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.
About the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ)
As a leader in housing, the SHQ has the mission to meet the housing needs of Quebec citizens by providing affordable and low-rent housing and offering a range of assistance programs to support the construction, renovation and adaptation of homes, as well as access to homeownership. Moreover, the SHQ fosters the development of partnerships with communities, collaboration among sector stakeholders and innovation. To find out more about its activities, visit www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca/english.html.
Arevig Afarian
Office of the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Arevig.Afarian@infc.gc.ca
Bénédicte Trottier-Lavoie
Press Secretary to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Minister Responsible for the Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean Region
514-686-7100 benedicte.trottierlavoie@mamh.gouv.qc.ca
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