Official Opening of 30 New Second-Stage Housing Units for People Facing Homelessness in Gatineau

GATINEAU, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Sept. 16, 2016) - Today, the organization Mon Chez Nous officially opened a residential complex of 30 one-bedroom affordable housing rental units for those who are homeless in Gatineau. These new second-stage housing units provide an energetic living space with a community room, a shared kitchen and a small exercise room.

Located on Maloney Boulevard East, near the Lac-Beauchamp Park, this project aims to foster healthy lifestyles; for example, smoking is forbidden inside the units. The three-storey building also includes the offices of Mon Chez Nous, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The total cost of the project exceeds $5.8 million.

The ceremony took place today in the presence of Steven MacKinnon, Federal Member of Parliament for Gatineau, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with Alexandre Iracà, Member of the National Assembly for Papineau, on behalf of Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montréal region.

Quick facts

• Through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ), the governments of Canada and Quebec provided close to $2.1 million for the construction of this building, under the Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement (IAH 2014-2019).
  
  
• An amount of $50,550 was granted by the Bureau de l'efficacité et de l'innovation énergétiques of the Ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources naturelles to ensure that the building would obtain the Novoclimat certification.
  
  
• The City of Gatineau provided nearly $625,000 for the development of the project.
  
  
• More than $516,000 in additional financial assistance over five years, assumed by the SHQ (90 per cent) and the City of Gatineau (10 per cent), enables all the tenants to benefit from the Rent Supplement program, ensuring that they will not pay more than 25 per cent of their income on housing.
  
  

Quotes

"The peace of mind that comes with having a secure and stable home is invaluable. Our government is proud to support the building of these affordable housing units to help those that are most in need, here in Gatineau, and across Canada. Congratulations to all those who have made this project possible." - Steven MacKinnon, Member of Parliament for Gatineau

"This is not the first and certainly not the last such housing project that Mon Chez Nous will realize. I would like to heartily congratulate the founder of this organization, François Roy, and his entire team of professionals and volunteers for everything they have accomplished over the past 20 years. Thanks to this project, those experiencing difficulties will have access to a living environment in which they can build their self-esteem. The Government of Quebec is proud to support organizations that work to give our society's most vulnerable a roof over their heads." - Alexandre Iracà, Member of the National Assembly for Papineau

"Even if Gatineau's Municipal Council, through its 2014-2017 program, has promised to make additional investments in affordable housing, all hope we have of winning this battle will be in vain without the support of determined and committed partners like Mon Chez Nous. I applaud the work this organization has carried out over the past two decades. In addition to improving the living and housing conditions and the quality of life of our fellow citizens, Mon Chez Nous has played a central role in breaking the cycle of poverty, fostering social diversity and creating livelier neighbourhoods." - Myriam Nadeau, Municipal Councillor for the district of Pointe-Gatineau and Chair of the Commission permanente sur l'habitation of the City of Gatineau.

Associated links

• CMHC has been helping Canadians meet their housing needs for more than 70 years. As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to Canadian governments, consumers and the housing industry. Prudent risk management, strong corporate governance and transparency are cornerstones of its operations. For more information, please call 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca.

• Canadians are invited to help shape the National Housing Strategy by joining the conversation at www.LetsTalkHousing.ca. Your ideas will help shape the future of housing in Canada.

• 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 228,000 Quebec households. To get more information on the programs and services offered by the SHQ, to find out more about its activities and achievements or to get advice on housing, visit www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca.

• Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, has invited community and social housing stakeholders to participate in a public consultation held on the new housing approach that he intends to adopt over the coming years. To have your opinion heard or to see the schedule of the tour and how to participate, visit http://www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca/english.html.

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