Three Levels of Government Officially Open the Sherpa Housing Complex and Invest in Affordable Housing

QUÉBEC CITY, QUÉBEC--(Marketwired - Sept. 5, 2013) - As a result of the combined efforts of the governments of Canada and Quebec, the City of Québec and their local partners, people living with mental health problems and men and women experiencing difficulties now have access to 77 affordable housing units.

The Sherpa housing complex, the construction of which required a total investment of more than $15.4 million, was officially opened today in the presence of Senator Suzanne Fortin-Duplessis, on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development), and Agnès Maltais, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale and Chaudière-Appalaches regions, on behalf of Sylvain Gaudreault, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, Minister of Transport and Minister responsible for the Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ), and Régis Labeaume, Mayor of Québec.

The Government of Canada, through Canada's Economic Action Plan, and the Government of Quebec, under the AccèsLogis Québec program of the SHQ, jointly invested more than $6.2 million for the development of this innovative project. In addition, the SHQ has secured the mortgage loan taken out by the organization Pech to complete the financing of the project. The City of Québec, for its part, invested close to $2.4 million for the construction of this building. Lastly, it should be mentioned that a contribution of nearly $116,000 was provided by Employment and Social Development Canada under the Homelessness Partnering Strategy.

"Our government is dedicated to helping those in need, which is why we are proud to have invested in this project in the city of Québec. These new units are more than just safe and affordable places to live. They are the key to a better life for the people who will call them home. We remain focused on four priorities, as outlined by the Prime Minister, that Canadians care most about: their families, the safety of our streets and communities, their pride in being citizens of this country, and of course, their personal financial security," said Senator Fortin-Duplessis.

"As one of the government's major commitments in the Capitale-Nationale region, Sherpa offers tenants the possibility to live in quality housing at a lower cost, while benefiting from the support of the professionals from the organization Pech. With its modern architectural elements and bright colours, this construction certainly doesn't lack character and helps project a positive image of social housing in Québec. The social mix prevailing in this project reflects that which makes the charm of the Saint-Roch district," said Minister Agnès Maltais.

Situated in the Saint-Roch district of Québec, the Sherpa building has nine storeys in the part on Charest Boulevard and six storeys in the part on Notre-Dame-des-Anges Street. The offices of the organization Pech, which helps people living with mental health problems, and a recovery centre occupy the ground floor of the building. The tenants of the 77 units located on the upper floors can therefore benefit from the services and support of the organization. The colourful building with modern architecture also has community spaces, including a rooftop terrace.

"Sherpa offers a unique social housing mix in Canada by bringing together individuals experiencing exclusion and isolation with emerging artists downtown. Sherpa reaches out to two groups who have several affinities, while providing them with the opportunity to live together, which gives Saint-Roch and downtown Québec a particular colour and quality of life that we are all proud of. I want to highlight the work of our government partners and note that, following discussions, the federal government demonstrated open-mindedness regarding the eligibility of organizations for the Homelessness Partnering Strategy," said Mayor Régis Labeaume.

"The objective of the Sherpa project is to have adequate housing and especially to live together in order to become citizens and share a path to emancipation or simply a little humanity with others. Thanks to our partners, particularly the SHQ, CMHC, the City of Québec and Action-Habitation de Québec, which made this wonderful project possible," said Benoît Côté, General Manager of Pech.

More than $1.3 million in additional financial assistance over five years, assumed by the SHQ (90 per cent) and the City of Québec (10 per cent), enables all the tenants of Sherpa to benefit from the Rent Supplement program, ensuring that they do not pay more than 25 per cent of their income on housing.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest approximately $2 billion in housing this year. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will be spent in support of close to 594,000 households living in social housing. In Quebec, this represents some 127,150 households. These investments are improving the quality of life for low-income Canadians and households living in social housing, 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 CMHC is working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca.

Société d'habitation du Québec

The SHQ's mission is to facilitate citizens' access to appropriate housing conditions. Housing constitutes a structured response to numerous challenges and needs of Quebec society. Whether by helping to preserve the health of families and seniors, by addressing poverty, social exclusion and homelessness or by revitalizing neighbourhoods and regions, the Société d'habitation du Québec contributes to improving the quality of life of 230,000 households each year. The SHQ also supports job creation and the economic development of all regions of Quebec. That's why the Government of Quebec announced, in its latest budget, total funding of $231 million for the construction of 3,000 affordable housing units over the coming years.

For more information on the programs and services offered by the SHQ, visit www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca/english.html. You may also visit Espace Habitat, the SHQ's Web magazine (in French only) that features, among other things, the benefits of this agency's initiatives on all of Quebec society.