Quebec's $77M for tenants in need won't solve affordable housing crisis, say advocates

The Quebec government is earmarking $77 million to help low-income tenants in the lead-up to the province's traditional July 1 moving day,with a plan that includes rental subsidies for 2,200 households.

But tenants' rightsadvocates say the plan doesn't go far enough to address the affordable-housing crisis.

"There's not enough [housing], and we have to work our way towards coming up with more social housing units," said Catherine Lussier,a community organizer with the housing rights groupFront d'action populaire en ramnagement urbain(FRAPRU).

To make matters worse, said Cdric Dussault, spokesperson for a coalition of housing and tenants' rights groups,RCLALQ,tenants in many regions, including theLower St. Lawrence, the Gasp peninsula and the Magdalen Islands,are being pushed out by landlords, in favour ofshort-term rentals.

"There's a lot of people being thrown out of rental units because landlords want to rent the unit to tourists for the holiday season," said Dussault.

The new government assistance for tenants wasannounced by Quebec's minister of municipal affairs and housing, Andre Laforest, in a news release Thursday.

A total of $75.8 millionwill go towardhelping low-income tenants livingin privately owned housing pay their rent, with subsidies of up to 25 per cent of their household income.

Quebec is also expanding itsexisting housing allowance program called Allocation-logement, with the maximum financial assistance increasing from $80 to $150 in the coming months.

The Socit d'habitation du Qubec (SHQ) will also offer assistance over the telephone to those who need help finding housing. The phone service will operate seven days a week during Quebec's busiest moving time, between June 18 and July 18.

Another $2 million has been set aside for municipalities to help them temporarily accommodate tenants who have no place to goand to store their belongings, if needed. The ministry says anybody who cannot find a place to live can also contact the SHQ for help.

Housing vacancy rates are historically low throughout Quebec, andthe housing minister acknowledged the current housing shortage in April.

Laforest's news release sayssincetheCoalition Avenir Qubec government was elected in 2018,nearly 8,000 social- and affordable-housing units have been built or are now under construction.

"This year, with the evolution of the rental market caused by the pandemic and inflation, we expect that a greater number of people will need assistance in their search or even financial support," saidLaforest in the news release.

"This is why we are now launching our action plan for the period surrounding July 1."

Sherbrooke mayor says help is needed

SherbrookeMayor velyne Beaudinsaid in her city, the vacancy rate wasn't as lowlast year as it is now, but the city still spent more than$462,000 to house 48 people. The provincial government only chipped in about $136,000, she said.It took untilNovember to find accommodations for everyone who needed a place to live.

This year, Sherbrooke officials expect the situation to be even worse, as the vacancy rate has fallen below one per cent, and already 36 people are looking for emergency assistance in June and July, Beaudinsaid. There were will be plenty more come moving season, she predicted.

"We decided to begin the help program in June instead of July, and we know it is going to be a much higher cost for the city this year," she said.

"That's why we are happy to know the government increased its help for cities, but still we need to know how much it means for Sherbrooke."

City officials are already scrambling to offer those in need emergency accommodations, storage and help finding new, affordable accommodationswhen prices are skyrocketing,Beaudin said.

"Right now the emergency is to see how we can help those people who will not have a roof after July 1."