Affordable housing in Quebec gets $400 million injection
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 onMonday.
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 Rseau d'aide aux personnes seules et itinrantes de Montral (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,RAPSIMsaid the group ishappy with the investment, but added they'd like to see anaffordable housing strategy that covers a longer period.
MarjolaineBoutin-Sweet, NDP housing critic and MP forHochelagawas also on hand forthe announcement. She echoedRAPSIM'sconcerns 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."
With files from Shaun Malley