Projet Montréal Unveils Plan to Safeguard Rooming Houses in Montreal
Projet Montréal, a leading political party in Montreal, has introduced a comprehensive strategy to safeguard rooming houses across the city. Their proposal includes measures to restrict the conversion of these houses and take them out of the private market.
Luc Rabouin, the head of Projet Montréal, has outlined the plan, suggesting that the city could repurchase buildings to maintain affordable housing options and counteract investor-driven speculation. This initiative is part of their commitment to ensuring housing for all residents.
If elected on November 2, Projet Montréal pledges to implement these protective measures promptly. The party’s vision revolves around providing housing solutions at every level, from emergency shelters to homeownership, to ensure that everyone can access safe and sustainable housing within their means.
Projet Montréal emphasizes its focus on supporting individuals with low incomes and protecting vulnerable populations by offering affordable housing options. The party has already led eight boroughs in banning the conversion of rooming houses since 2020.
According to Rabouin, many Montrealers, especially those in rooming houses, fear losing their homes and facing homelessness. He stresses the importance of safeguarding these residences as a crucial safety net for vulnerable individuals. Projet Montréal aims to extend their protection citywide by prohibiting rooming house conversions throughout Montreal and facilitating their transfer to non-profit organizations.
The party plans to utilize the right of first refusal to repurchase buildings, including rooming houses, before they are acquired by private developers. This strategy has already safeguarded nine buildings with a total of 138 rooms, with more protections planned in the first year of the upcoming administration.
Projet Montréal’s ultimate goal is to preserve as many rooms as possible, secure threatened housing stock, and provide stability for those in precarious living situations.
