With Quebec’s annual July 1 moving day approaching, the City of Montreal is investing an additional $742,500 to expand its Rent Assistance Bank, helping more tenants avoid losing their homes.
The Martinez Ferrada administration says the funding will allow Maison du Père’s Rent Assistance Bank (BAL) to support an additional 150 households facing financial hardship due to rising housing costs and the increasing cost of living.
“If we want to fight homelessness at the source, we have to intervene before people lose their homes. Behind every rent arrears, there is often an unforeseen situation: a job loss, a health problem or an increase in the cost of living. By supporting the Rent Bank, we are focusing on a concrete, humane and effective approach that allows households to get through a difficult period without falling into homelessness,” said Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Montreal Mayor.
The program offers interest-free loans of up to $5,000 to help tenants cover unpaid rent and remain in their homes. Repayments are based on a household’s financial situation and can be spread over as long as five years.
“The Rent Bank is not just a credit instrument, but a comprehensive intervention approach,” said ,” said Jaëlle Bégarin, President and CEO of Maison du Père. “Each request leads to a budget analysis, mediation with the owner and personalized psychosocial support, with the aim of ensuring lasting residential stability.”
Beyond financial assistance, the program also provides personalized support, including mediation with landlords, housing stability services and resources aimed at preventing homelessness.
“Having a home allows you to live in dignity, feel safe and look to the future with confidence. Sometimes, a few hundred dollars is enough to prevent an individual or family from losing their home and becoming homeless,” said added Benoit Langevin, who is responsible for social development and cohabitation on the executive committee. “Thanks to this funding, the Maison du Père will be able to quickly support a greater number of households when an unforeseen event occurs, and accompany them towards lasting stability. It’s a concrete gesture that can really change the course of a life,”
City officials say the investment is intended to help vulnerable residents stay housed before financial difficulties escalate into homelessness, a concern that often comes into sharper focus around Quebec’s traditional moving day.
