The Quebec and federal governments, along with the City of Montreal, have invested approximately $340 million in nine affordable and social housing projects.

The projects are being co-ordinated by Montreal-based community real estate developer Bâtir son quartier and include 893 multi-residential units. Some developments are underway and others have already been built.

The significant investment aims to ensure that rent remains affordable in the long term, with increases happening at a slower rate compared to the private market, said the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation in a news release.

The province invested the largest amount, $228.7 million, while the federal government and city furnished $57.7 million and $52.8 million, respectively.

More than half of the 893 households could qualify for the Société d’habitation du Quebec (SHQ) rent supplement program. The initiative ensures that participating households spend no more than 25% of their income on housing, with the financial support covered by the SHQ (90%) and city (10%).

The SHQ is the Quebec government’s housing investment and development arm.

Quebec Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau emphasized the government’s commitment to finding innovative solutions to the housing crisis. “We continue to innovate and propose new solutions to build more, faster, and better,” she said, highlighting the collaboration with Bâtir son quartier.

Federal Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, whose riding is in Montreal, also praised the initiative.

“Together, we’re building a generation of new housing we can all be proud of,” she said.

Joly noted that the projects address the needs of southwest Montreal and the entire Island of Montreal.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante reaffirmed the city’s dedication to creating “off-market,” in others words non-market, housing units.

“Montreal is taking action to make things happen,” she said, referring to the city’s Loger + strategy, which includes various measures to support affordable housing development.

The projects include housing co-operatives and resources for low-income families, seniors, women, and those experiencing homelessness are expected to have a lasting impact on the community.

“The diversity of the projects presented today clearly demonstrates the community housing sector’s ability to meet the needs of Montreal households,” said Edith Cyr, executive-director of Bâtir son quartier.

The federal and Quebec governments have launched a fast-track financing program to speed up affordable housing development across the province.

Under the new program, the two governments will provide financial support to qualified developers to accelerate to complete projects rapidly. The program is partly funded through $900 million that Ottawa is providing to Quebec as part of an agreement under the $4-billion Housing Accelerator Fund initiative. Funds will also come from a matching $900-million contribution from the Quebec government.

The qualified developers are determined by the province’s housing arm, the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ).

To start, the program is investing $193.5 million in the construction of 1,001 new units in Greater Montreal and Rimouski. The units will be built by the Société de développement Angus (SDA), the first organization to join the SHQ’s network of qualified developers.

The federal and provincial funds will cover about 50% of the estimated construction cost, according to a news release. The City of Montreal and City of Rimouski will contribute to the respective projects through financing that the SDA arranged with Desjardins.

In Montreal, 677 units will be constructed in the Technopôle Angus district, located in Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Two buildings of up to seven storeys will be built in the heart of the Angus eco-district on Molson Street. The project will contain 352 one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Construction is slated to begin by late 2024.

Meanwhile, 325 one-, two- and three-bedroom units will be built in the Montreal suburb of Ahuntsic. The project will be the first residential development in the future Écoquartier Louvain.

Long-term plans call for the eco-district to include an elementary school, childcare centre, library, community centre, multi-purpose hall, shops, local services and an urban farm. Construction is schedule to commence by summer 2025.

Rimouski will receive the remaining 324 units.

Pictured: Technopôle Angus district in Montreal

Rendering: Société de développement Angus