SAINTE-JULIE, QC, May 3, 2024
/CNW/ - The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing,
Infrastructure and Communities; France-Élaine Duranceau, Quebec Minister Responsible for Housing; and
Suzanne Roy, Quebec Minister of
Families and Minister Responsible for the Montérégie Region and
Member of the National Assembly for Verchères, are proud to
announce that a new 62-unit housing project will be built
rapidly in Sainte-Julie. The
project was selected in the second call for projects of the Société
d'habitation du Québec's Programme d'habitation abordable
Québec (PHAQ).
Project details:
City: Sainte-Julie
Name of project: Villa de l'Amitié
Project developer: Villa l'Amitié, a non-profit organization
Number of housing units: 62
Benefitting population: Independent seniors
These projects were 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 those
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 Montérégie 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
"Every citizen of Quebec
deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. The Government
of Canada is proud to join in the
creation of 62 new affordable housing units in Sainte-Julie for the 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
"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. I
applaud the federal and provincial governments and the City
of Sainte-Julie, which have implemented the required financial
levers, our local partners and, of course, Villa de l'Amitié, which
believes that affordable, social housing can contribute to a better
quality of life in our community."
Suzanne Roy, Quebec Minister
of Families, Minister Responsible for the Montérégie region and
Member of the National Assembly for Verchères
"The City of Sainte-Julie is
excited to be the venue for the Villa de l'Amitié affordable
housing project. The project will meet an urgent need for
affordable and social housing in Sainte-Julie. It represents hope for a future
where everyone can find a home that they can afford. I would like
to thank the Government of Quebec,
the Government of Canada and Villa
de l'Amitié for their tremendous collaboration, which will make
this project a success for the community of Sainte-Julie."
Mario Lemay, Mayor of
Sainte-Julie
"The addition of new non-profit housing units here will allow us
to increase density and add affordable housing for independent
seniors near services and public transit. We'd like to thank the
municipality and local elected officials for their support and
enthusiasm for our project."
Martin Bécotte, President, Villa de l'Amitié
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 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.
- 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 second PHAQ 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. New
legislative amendments (currently in development and subject to
adoption by the National Assembly) will also be tabled to improve
urban densification and streamline multi-unit construction
approval, 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 Quebec citizens through
its expertise and services. 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.
SocietehabitationQuebec
HabitationSHQ
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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
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consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim is that, by 2030,
everyone in Canada has a home they
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SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)