The housing crisis in Quebec remains a pressing issue, with the number of households without housing stubbornly stable compared to last year, despite an increase in vacancy rates.
According to the latest data from the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ), 1,754 households in Quebec are actively seeking housing or being provided housing by municipalities. This number is almost the same as last year’s figure of 1,757.
Véronique Laflamme, a spokesperson for the Front d’action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU), highlights that even in areas with new housing developments, rents continue to rise. She points out Drummondville as an example, where despite ongoing construction, median rents have significantly increased, making housing unaffordable for many tenant households.
The regional breakdown of SHQ data reveals disparities in housing availability. Some areas like Chaudière-Appalaches, Bas-Saint-Laurent, and Centre-du-Québec have seen a surge in households seeking housing. On the other hand, regions like Lanaudière, Montréal, and Outaouais have witnessed a decrease in the number of households without housing.
Despite government announcements regarding housing construction, there is a significant delay in delivering promised housing units. Many of the projects under the Quebec Affordable Housing Program (PHAQ) announced in 2020 are still in the development stage, leaving many households in need of affordable housing stranded.
The housing crisis in Quebec persists, with households facing challenges in finding affordable housing amidst rising rents and delays in housing construction projects.
