Two New Housing Co-Operatives to Improve the Quality of Life of Seniors Aged 50 or Older and Families in Sherbrooke

SHERBROOKE, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Sept. 12, 2016) - Today marked the official opening of the Coopérative d'habitation Rive-Gauche La Déferlante, a 49-unit residential complex for people aged 50 or older and the Coopérative d'habitation Désormeaux, phase III, a 24-unit project for families and singles.

Located in the borough of Fleurimont, these new units are a positive addition to this vibrant neighbourhood where children, seniors and other individuals from various cultural communities are already living alongside one another, close to amenities, public transit and green spaces.

The ceremony took place today in the presence of the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Member of Parliament for Compton-Standstead, and Federal Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, along with Guy Hardy, Member of the National Assembly for Saint-François, 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

• Both projects required total investments of close to $5.6 million for the Coopérative d'habitation Rive-Gauche La Déferlante and over $3.4 million for the Coopérative d'habitation Désormeaux, phase III, respectively.
• Through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ), the governments of Canada and Quebec provided close to $2.5 million for the construction of the Coopérative Rive-Gauche La déferlante, under the Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement (IAH 2014-2019).
• The Government of Quebec, through the SHQ, also provided close to $1.4 million for the construction of the Coopérative d'habitation Désormeaux, phase III.
• Over $162,000 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 both projects would obtain the Novoclimat certification.
• The City of Sherbrooke provided over $992,000 for the development of these projects.
• Close to $637,000 in additional financial assistance over five years, assumed by the SHQ (90 per cent) and the City of Sherbrooke (10 per cent), enables half of both co-operatives' 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

"These units represent much more than a roof and walls for people living in Sherbrooke. They are lovely environments where families and friends of all ages and cultures live together. Congratulations to all the partners who contributed to the success of the two housing cooperatives. All these efforts help support affordable housing in the region." - The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, MP for Compton-Standstead, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie

"Sherbrooke's families, seniors and singles now have access to 73 new affordable and safe units. Our government is proud to contribute to the enrichment of this quality living environment for low- and modest-income households." - Guy Hardy, Member of the National Assembly for Saint-François

"In addition to providing affordable housing, housing co-operatives promote social participation and inclusion through empowerment, democracy and mutual aid. The City of Sherbrooke is proud to participate in this local initiative" - Bernard Sévigny, Mayor of Sherbrooke

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 on www.LetsTalkHousing.ca. Your ideas will contribute to 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/english.html.

• This past April, Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, announced that a public consultation would be held on the new housing approach that he intends to adopt over the coming years. For details and the schedule of the tour, visit www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca (in French only).

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