Affordable housing in Quebec gets $400 million injection
CBC News | Posted: January 16, 2017 9:04 PM | Last Updated: January 16, 2017
Federal and provincial governments will help build more than 200 social housing units in Montreal
The federal and provincial governments have agreed to invest a total of $407 million into social housing in Quebec over two years, with Ottawa contributing $286 million to the province's $121 million.
Jean-Yves Duclos, federal minister of social development, made the announcement in Montreal on Monday.
This investment comes in addition to the $577 million in joint funding that's currently provided under the Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement.
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The money will help build more than 200 social housing units in Montreal. It will also be spent on day centres, affordable rental units and hiring front-line support workers.
"The federal government has a tendency to give strict norms," he said. "But this funding will give [housing organizations] some flexibility."
Duclos spoke in Montreal alongside representatives of the Réseau d'aide aux personnes seules et itinérantes de Montréal (RAPSIM), a coalition group of about 100 community organizations that helps the homeless.
RAPSIM will be responsible for overseeing the construction of the social housing units in Montreal.
In a news release, RAPSIM said the group is happy with the investment, but added they'd like to see an affordable housing strategy that covers a longer period.
Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, NDP housing critic and MP for Hochelaga was also on hand for the announcement. She echoed RAPSIM's concerns about the two-year funding package.
"Investing in housing is prevention because people are able to have somewhere to live," she said. "It saves costs in health and prisons, and the judicial system."