Budget 2021-2022 | Quebec chooses to improve direct financial assistance for tenants

In a context of exploding construction costs and delays, CORPIQ believes that the Quebec government is making the right choice by making direct financial assistance available to an additional 600 households to improve their housing, while accelerating the delivery of social housing already announced.

More specifically, CORPIQ welcomes the additional direct personal assistance of approximately $18 million for tenants with specific and urgent housing needs, as announced in the budget on March 25. They will be able to do so in the private market without spending more than 25% of their income on rent.

As for the allocation of $250 million to accelerate the delivery of the 5,000 subsidized dwellings already announced, this is a justified measure in a context where the more time passes, more the average bill per unit will increase. On the other hand, the additional 500 AccèsLogis units that are budgeted ($37 million) could result in the emptying of private housing.

"More units are available than a year ago, especially in Montreal, and tenants across Quebec are experiencing urgent and temporary situations. They need quick and flexible financial assistance, not necessarily increasingly expensive construction projects that will take years to complete," said CORPIQ's Director of Public Affairs, Hans Brouillette.

CORPIQ also notes that the budget of the Rénovation Québec program will increase from $16 million to $36 million. Before rejoicing, it is waiting to see how cities will distribute this money, how much of it will be devoted to private rental buildings and according to what criteria.