TROIS-RIVIÈRES, QC,
May 24,
2024 /CNW/ - The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation,
Science and Industry, and Member of Parliament for
Saint-Maurice–Champlain; and Jean
Boulet, Member of the National Assembly for Trois-Rivières,
Quebec Minister of Labour and
Quebec Minister Responsible for
the Mauricie Region, are proud to announce that a 29-unit housing
project selected during the second call for projects under the
Société d'habitation du Québec's (SHQ) Programme d'habitation
abordable Québec (PHAQ) will be completed rapidly in
Trois-Rivières.
Details of the project:
Project name: Les 5 coins
Project developer: Office municipal d'habitation de
Trois-Rivières
Number of housing units: 29
Benefitting population:
- Low-income individuals and couples. This includes seniors and
young adults, to encourage social diversity. These units could also
accommodate women in vulnerable situations and their children.
The Government of Canada's
contribution will come from the Canada–Quebec Agreement under the
Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), to which the Government
of Canada has invested $900 million. The Government
of Quebec, for its part, announced new investments of
$900 million in its November 2023 economic update. The
City of Trois-Rivières will also be a financial partner in the
project, as it will be providing a contribution equivalent to at
least 40% of the base grant from the SHQ.
In response to the housing crisis, the governments of
Canada and Quebec announced on February 16, 2024, the rapid construction of
2,574 new housing units throughout the province as part of 47
selected projects, including the one announced today. To ensure
that these projects launch quickly, their developers must sign an
agreement with a contractor within 12 months of being selected to
remain eligible for government funding.
Quotes:
"Every Quebecer deserves a safe and affordable place to call
home. The Government of Canada is
proud to join in the creation of 29 new affordable housing units
for Trois-Rivières's most vulnerable residents through the
Canada-Quebec Agreement under the Housing Accelerator Fund. This
demonstrates our unwavering commitment to ensuring that no one is
left behind."
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing,
Infrastructure and Communities
"Only a few months after signing a historic agreement with the
Government of Canada, we're
already announcing the construction of additional housing under the
Programme d'habitation abordable Québec. This good news for the
Mauricie Region shows our firm commitment to building more
affordable housing across Quebec.
Every Quebecer deserves a home that meets their needs."
France-Élaine Duranceau,
Quebec Minister Responsible for
Housing and Member of the National Assembly for Bertrand
"Everyone deserves a safe, affordable home. As a result of the
Canada-Quebec Agreement under the Housing Acceleration Fund, we're
rapidly building affordable housing for those who need it most,
right across the country. Today's announcement means that 29
affordable housing units will soon be available for people in the
Mauricie region."
The Honourable François-Philippe
Champagne, Member of Parliament for Saint-Maurice–Champlain, Minister of Innovation, Science and
Industry
"The people of this region can count on our government to step
up and take concrete action to tackle the housing crisis we're
facing, particularly in Trois-Rivières, where the vacancy rate
is 0.4%. Today's announcement is the result of collaborative work
that will make a real impact on the daily lives of vulnerable
citizens. I applaud the federal and provincial governments and the
City of Trois-Rivières for implementing the required financial
levers, as well as our local partners and, of course, the Office
municipal d'habitation de Trois-Rivières, who believe in the
value of social and affordable housing as a vector for better
quality of life in our community."
Jean Boulet, Member of the
National Assembly for Trois-Rivières, Quebec Minister of Labour and Quebec Minister Responsible for the Mauricie
Region, the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Region and the Nord-du-Québec
Region
"The construction of these 29 new housing units is great news
for Trois-Rivières. This represents concrete action towards meeting
the housing needs of low-income individuals and couples. By
providing the land on which this project will be built, the City of
Trois-Rivières is happy to be a part of this announcement and
collaboration with the federal and Quebec governments. By working with our
partners, the City is contributing to meeting a critical need
within our community, that of access to affordable housing located
near essential services."
Jean Lamarche, Mayor of Trois-Rivières
"This is excellent news, and we're delighted to be a part of
making this project happen. We have to thank our partners for
having believed in this project. Located near various services,
including public transportation, and welcoming different types of
residents, Les 5 coins is an innovative and critical project
for Trois-Rivières. The Office municipal d'habitation de
Trois-Rivières is committed to taking part in the collaborative
response to the housing crisis and dedicated to its mission of
providing access to safe, accessible, quality housing to low-income
individuals and families."
Amina Chaffaï, President of the Office municipal d'habitation
de Trois-Rivières
Highlights:
- Some of the households that move into these units could benefit
from the SHQ's Rent Supplement Program, ensuring that they spend no
more than 25% of their income on housing. This additional
assistance is covered by the SHQ (90%) and the municipality where
the project is located (10%).
- To keep the other units affordable, a maintenance period for
this assistance will be required. This period could last up to 35
years. Assistance rates will vary based on the term of the
commitment. Rents may be indexed each year based on percentages set
by the Tribunal administratif du logement.
- The Programme d'habitation abordable Québec (PHAQ) aims to
engage all partners who can develop affordable housing projects.
Co-operatives, non-profits, housing bureaus and private-sector
businesses can submit projects under the Program. The PHAQ also
aims to accelerate residential construction, which is why its
standards stipulate that projects must be started within 12 months
of being selected. This period may be extended to 18 months in
certain circumstances.
- The Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) is a $4-billion Government of Canada initiative launched in March 2023 that includes $900 million for Quebec. Its goal is to accelerate the
construction of 100,000 housing units across the country.
- The Government of Quebec, as
part of its fall 2023 economic update, also announced new
investments of $900 million to
accelerate housing construction.
- The HAF encourages local governments to implement sustainable
initiatives that lower barriers to increasing housing supply and
approving development projects. Its long-term goal is to make
housing more affordable for people in Canada.
- On December 11, 2023, the
Government of Quebec announced the
first wave of 14 projects from the PHAQ's second call for projects
(in French only), representing 999 units in total.
- The Government of Quebec is
firmly committed to continuing its work to accelerate the
construction of residential units in the province through the Act
respecting land use planning and development and other provisions.
Furthermore, the government will set up an interdepartmental
project acceleration group in collaboration with Quebec municipal authorities, and it will also
adopt new government directions on land use planning, including
metrics for residential construction that municipalities will be
required to use as a basis for setting targets. The government also
intends to propose legislative amendments (which are being drafted
and are subject to adoption by the National Assembly) aimed at
improving urban densification, streamlining multi-unit construction
approval and thus reducing the associated delays.
About the Société d'habitation du
Québec
As a leader in housing, the SHQ's mission is to meet the housing
needs of Quebecers through its expertise and services to citizens.
It does this by providing affordable and low-rental housing and
offering a range of assistance programs to support the
construction, renovation and adaptation of homes, and access to
homeownership.
To find out more about its activities, visit
www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca/english.
Facebook: SocietehabitationQuebec
X: HabitationSHQ
LinkedIn: LinkedIn
About Canada Mortgage and Housing
Corporation
As Canada's authority on
housing, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (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 they
can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, follow
us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and
Facebook.
SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)