New senior housing development gets $235m fund
Quebec has announced plans to build 1,000 new affordable and social housing units for independent seniors across 10 cities in the province over the next two years.
The project will receive a $235 million investment from federal and provincial governments under the recently signed $1.8 billion Housing Accelerator Fund, according to a news release.
The City of Drummondville contributes by providing the land and offering tax and utility connection breaks. Additional funding comes from a philanthropic donation by Luc Maurice, chair of the board of directors of Mission Unitaînés.
"The implementation of the Housing Accelerator Fund in Quebec paves the way for innovative solutions,” said Sean Fraser, minister of housing, infrastructure and communities. “The partnership will allow more housing units to be built, more quickly, to provide appropriate housing to thousands of low- and moderate-income seniors."
A six-story, 100-unit building will be built in Drummondville with a $23.5 million budget. Once completed in spring 2026, the Drummondville building will offer bachelor and two-bedroom units at affordable rents ranging from $595 to $900 per month, with utilities included. Amenities include elevators, a multipurpose room, a patio, and landscaped grounds.
"Thinking outside the box is one of our priorities, and that's why we immediately welcomed this investment to Drummondville,” mayor Stéphanie Lacoste said in a statement. “The building is ideally located, close to businesses and services accessible by public or active transportation, so seniors can enjoy the great quality of life we have to offer in Drummondville while staying in decent apartments at reasonable prices."
The Office d'habitation Drummond will manage and maintain the building using a $500,000 reserve fund.
Eligible low-income residents can benefit from rent subsidies through Quebec's Rent Supplement Program to ensure housing costs don't exceed 25% of their income.
The financial model will create the 1,000 debt-free units at a lower cost than traditional affordable housing developed by Quebec's housing corporation.
"I'm proud to see that we're leveraging all the resources at our disposal to improve the quality of life for low-income seniors in the Centre-du-Québec region,” said Sébastien Schneeberger, member of the national assembly for Drummond–Bois-Francs.
"I've often said that we need to innovate to build more and better housing, especially given the current housing crisis,” added France-Élaine Duranceau, Quebec Minister Responsible for Housing. “I'm excited by this project, as it leverages stakeholder expertise to build quality affordable housing in very short timeframes. We are determined to deliver results through this partnership."
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