BEAUHARNOIS, QC, May 10, 2024
/CNW/ - Brenda Shanahan, Member of Parliament for
Châteauguay-Lacolle, and
Claude Reid, Member of the National
Assembly for Beauharnois, are
proud to announce that 48 housing units will be built,
quickly, in Beauharnois. They are
part of a project selected in the second call for projects of the
Société d'habitation du Québec's Programme d'habitation
abordable Québec (PHAQ).
Details of the selected project:
City: Beauharnois
Name of project: La Maison Péladeau
Project developer: Office municipal d'habitation de Beauharnois
Number of housing units: 48
Benefitting population: Families, individuals, independent
seniors
This project was made possible through the Canada–Quebec
Agreement under the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), to which the
Government of Canada has contributed $900 million. The
Government of Quebec added another $900 million in the
November 2023 economic update. The municipality is also a
financial partner in this project. Its minimum contribution is
assessed at 40% of the SHQ's base grant.
In response to the housing crisis, the governments of
Canada and Quebec announced on February 16
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 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:
"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 Beauharnois area 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
"Every Quebecer deserves a safe and affordable place to call
home. The Government of Canada is
proud to be part of the construction of 48 new affordable units in
Beauharnois through the
Canada-Quebec Agreement under the Housing Accelerator Fund. The
Government of Canada is firmly
committed to building more housing, faster, and to making sure
no one is left behind."
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing,
Infrastructure and Communities
"Members of our community know they can count on our government
to step up and tackle the housing crisis in our region. Today's
announcement is the result of successful collaborative work that
produced meaningful results. I applaud the federal and provincial
governments and the City of Beauharnois for setting up the
required financial levers, as well as our local partners and, of
course, the project developers, who believe in the value of social
and affordable housing as a vector for a better quality of life in
our community."
Claude Reid, Member of the
National Assembly for Beauharnois
"Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home.
Through the Canada-Quebec Agreement under the Housing Accelerator
Fund, we're building affordable housing, quickly, for those who
need it most throughout the country. Thanks to the projects
announced today, 48 affordable housing units will soon be
available. We know there's still a lot to be done, and we'll keep
on working hard for the people of Quebec."
Brenda Shanahan, Member of
Parliament for Châteauguay–Lacolle
"This announcement is crucial to achieving our shared vision of
a community where everyone has access to safe, affordable housing.
These new homes are more than walls and roofs—they are concrete
symbols of our commitment to equal opportunity and the well-being
of all members of our community."
Alain Dubuc, Mayor of
Beauharnois
"Today's announcement will make it possible to accommodate
individuals and couples aged 50 and over. In a few months, 48 safe,
affordable homes will house members of our community. This is the
culmination of concerted efforts by community members, and I want
to thank them. To our municipal partners and the provincial and
federal governments, thank you for believing in our project. This
great news is encouraging as we pursue our goal of providing
affordable, accessible, quality housing in Beauharnois."
Annie Lemieux, Director, OMH
Beauharnois
Highlights:
- Some of the households that move into these units could benefit
from the Société d'habitation du Québec's (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 units are 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 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
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Facebook.
SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)