Montreal says it is “ready” in anticipation of July 1

During a press conference given Tuesday morning, Mr. Dorais reiterated that Montreal has several services intended to help, or even support households experiencing problems in finding new housing.

Nevertheless, and even if the planned budget envelope has practically tripled since 2019 to deal with this problem, the situation of the Montreal rental stock continues to deteriorate, deplored Mr. Dorais.

If we feel the need to take stock of the situation, it means that something is happening.he launched.

” We have people who have been renovinated, people who are looking for new accommodation… There are people for whom things are going well, others who find it difficult. We are in the midst of a housing crisis! »

The municipal administration, in collaboration with many organizations and agencies, is able to support households in difficulty, pointed out Mr. Dorais. Including by offering an emergency accommodation service and storage of goods between two dwellings, among others.

Between 2019 and 2021, calls made in connection with housing problems tripled, added Mr. Dorais. Last year, he said, some 1,000 calls were made.

So far, in 2022, 456 calls have been received, including 81 households that needed support. Of this number, around thirty could find themselves on the street on Friday, July 1, and will potentially be housed urgently by the City or by organizations, in particular with the help of an agreement with hoteliers.

Yes, there has been an affordability crisis for several years. This is coupled with the pandemic and the changing economic context for everyone. Costs are on the risecontinued Mr. Dorais.

Charge against Quebec and Ottawa

If he affirms that the municipal and community services are there to solve the urgent problems, Benoit Dorais insists that we must attack the causes of these emergencies, that is to say the lack of access to affordable housing. And that, he says, depends on provincial and federal investments in the field.

If we really want to tackle the causes over which we have influence, we must reinvest massively in social and community housing, and in affordable housing for the middle class.launched Benoit Dorais.

Visibly uplifted by the publication on Monday of a Radio-Canada article indicating that the construction and renovation of 6,000 social housing units are in danger in Montreal, due to the lack of agreement between Quebec and Ottawa with regard to management of the funds, Mr. Dorais argued that the provincial and federal governments are currently bogged down in commas, in forms, and visibly blame each other.

It’s been four years that it’s silly, it’s been four years that the money sleepshe launched.

On the Quebec government side, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Andrée Laforest, said Monday that negotiations were continuing with Ottawa. Ms. Laforest said she is hopeful that the discussions will conclude soon. The file is in the hands of Minister Sonia LeBel, notably responsible for Canadian Relations.

We need to change our approach, says Ensemble Montréal

Among the other possible solutions to fight the housing crisis, Benoit Dorais invited to put pressure on the various political parties aiming to govern Quebec, next October, so that they commit to creating a Quebec rent register. A similar initiative is in preparation in Montreal, he said, before pointing out that the City does not have the power to control rents in the private market.

The opposition to the city hall, it considers that Project Montreal would benefit from exploring other avenues to solve the problem of access to housing.

It can be seen that the method used each year by the administration does not prevent the increase in the number of households accommodated during the July 1st crisis. We need to explore other ways to help MontrealersAref Salem, the leader of the party, said in a statement.

Last February, Ensemble Montréal proposed to create a bank of 100 affordable housing units in anticipation of July 1, in collaboration with community groups. Projet Montréal rejected this motion. You cannot expect different results using the same methods year after year.