Governments boost Quebec social housing

LAVAL, QUE. — Representatives from the provincial and federal governments gathered in Laval, Que. on Jan. 16 to announce spending of more than $400 million over two years on affordable and social housing.

The provincial statement indicated that the allocations will help improve access to housing for households in need, particularly by supporting the creation and renovation of housing for seniors and victims of family violence and addressing repairs of existing social housing.

Under the agreement, $286 million will be committed by the Government of Canada and $121 million by the Government of Quebec.

The announcement was made near the site of Laval’s Immeubles Val-Martin, a project that will receive $18.2 million under the agreement. The funding will allow for the reconstruction of 124 social housing units.

"The case of Immeubles Val-Martin is a great example of what we can do with this funding," said Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy Martin Coiteux in the statement.

The new funding includes:

• $48.4 million towards the construction, repair and adaptation of affordable housing for seniors;

• $22.2 million for shelters and transition houses for victims of family violence;

• $94.5 million for repairs to improve efficiency and reduce energy and water use; and

• $242.4 million as part of the commitment to double current funding levels to increase the supply of affordable housing in Quebec.

The work on Immeubles Val-Martin, which will begin in the summer of 2017, will be carried out over a two-year period.