The Côte-des-Neiges borough in Montreal is known for its vulnerable population and lack of adequate housing. But thanks to the new Fonds d’acquisition québécois, which launched in December, positive changes are beginning to happen.
“A number of vulnerable persons from various cultural communities are living in unacceptable conditions but don’t have the means to change the situation,” said Raymonde Turcotte, manager of Habitations communautaires de Côte-des Neiges. “We applaud the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ for enabling organizations such as ours to buy dilapidated buildings that will be decontaminated and renovated to make them livable and safe, because having a decent place to live is a fundamental right.”
One Côte-des-Neiges building in particular consisted of 49 units over three storeys and was home to 39 households before they were relocated by the City of Montréal through the Office municipal d’habitation and neighbourhood community groups such as ROMEL by way of its housing databank. Estimated at $1.77 million, the renovation work is slated for completion in April 2016, at which point the building will have 38 apartments and a common room, offering decent housing, along with community support to vulnerable people and those at risk of homelessness. This project falls under the AccèsLogis Québec program set up by Société d’Habitation du Québec (SHQ) and overseen by the City of Montréal on its territory.
In light of the great need for affordable quality housing, particularly in some areas of Montréal, the Association des groupes de ressources techniques du Québec and its partner, the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ, have set up the Fonds d’acquisition québécois, a fund that allows social economy companies to seize a purchase opportunity while awaiting full funding for their community housing projects. The short-term loans are granted at a reasonable interest rate.
“By investing in this type of project, our goal is first and foremost to help improve the quality of life of low-income households and to support the development of social and community housing,” added Normand Bélanger, President and CEO of Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ.
The success of the Côte-des Neiges project announced today is also owed to the involvement of the Technical Resource Group of the Regroupement des organismes du Montréal ethnique pour le logement (ROMEL), whose mandate is to develop community housing. In fact, ROMEL has already created 2,500 units in various boroughs.
“Breaking the cycle of isolation for these households that are often ill equipped to cope is one of our main objectives, which is why we work with all the actors, such as the Centre de santé et de services sociaux de la Montagne, so that the future tenants will have all the services available in their area. Most of all, by revitalizing abandoned buildings, we’re able to offer housing that respects human dignity,” concluded ROMEL general manager Mazen Houdeib.
