Nearly $2.7 Million Invested in Low-Rental Housing in Nicolet, Saint-Francois-du-Lac and Saint-Leonard D'Aston

NICOLET, QUÉBEC--(Marketwired - Oct. 20, 2014) - On a visit in the Centre-du-Québec region, representatives from the governments of Canada and Quebec gathered in Nicolet today to mark the completion of renovations to low-rental housing projects in the region, which required investments of nearly $2.7 million over the past seven years and helped significantly improve the quality of life of the tenants.

Of this amount, over $1.1 million was invested in the Résidence Lassiseraye located in Saint-François-du-Lac and $786,000 was granted to the Villa des Pins in Nicolet, while the Pavillon Laforest in Saint-Léonard-d'Aston received $746,000.

The financial assistance provided allowed for the renovation of four buildings intended for seniors. The work included replacing doors and windows and redoing roofs and pavements. Also, certain improvements, such as replacing the fire alarm systems and intercoms in the units as well as renovating the common areas, enhanced the quality of life of the tenants.

Several partners worked together to ensure that these renovations would be carried out. The Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), provided more than $1.3 million for the performance of this work, while the Government of Quebec, through the Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ), granted nearly $1.1 million. Valuable contributions for the completion of these projects were also made by the municipalities of Nicolet ($78,580), Saint-François-du-Lac ($115,650) and Saint-Léonard-d'Aston ($74,600).

"I'm proud of our Government's investment in these projects to ensure that even more seniors are able to live in housing that meets their needs. These upgrades will help continue to provide safe and affordable homes," said the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development).

"By renovating these units, the SHQ not only helped revitalize the sectors in which these buildings are located but also contributed to improving the quality of life of the tenants and enable them to feel safer. These are very encouraging results that also incite us to continue our investments to ensure the sustainability of Quebec's social housing stock and that demonstrate, once again, the significant importance attached by my government to the housing conditions of Quebec residents, especially those of low-income households," said Jean Rousselle, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy (housing).

It should be noted that hundreds of millions of dollars are invested each year by the federal and provincial governments in order to improve the condition of some 73,000 social housing units in Quebec.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Annually, the Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest approximately $2 billion in housing. These investments are improving the quality of life for Canadians living in social housing and low-income households, including individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal people.

To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC help Canadians meet their housing needs, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642, visit www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca or follow CMHC on Twitter @CMHC_ca.

Société d'habitation du Québec

The SHQ's mission is to facilitate citizens' access to appropriate housing conditions. Each year, thanks to its programs and many partners, the SHQ helps more than 230,000 Quebec households. To find out more about the programs and services offered by the SHQ, as well as its activities and achievements, or else to get advice on housing, visit www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca/english.html and follow the SHQ on social networks: Facebook (SocietehabitationQuebec) and Twitter (HabitationSHQ).