Requests for help finding housing have almost doubled in one year in Quebec

As July 1 approaches, more and more low-income renters are struggling to find affordable housing. In Quebec, needs jumped by almost 100% over one year to reach 8,162 requests for help in 2024, which is creating growing pressure on organizations fighting against homelessness, who say they are overwhelmed.

Time is running out for David Gosselin. After three months of searching, he still cannot find a new apartment. What’s more, during his search for a new home, he admits that he feels abandoned by the system.

works of Asterix! As much as211 that the311 and that the Montreal Housing Office referred me to Accueil Bonneau to have nights in the shelter, but during these nights, I do not have access to my dog”,”text” :”I would think I was in the 12 works of Asterix! Both le211 and le311 and the Montreal Housing Office referred me to Accueil Bonneau to have nights in the shelter, but during these nights, I do not have access to my dog”} }”>I would think I was in the 12 labors of Asterix! Both 211 and 311 and the Montreal Housing Office referred me to Accueil Bonneau to have nights in the shelter, but during these nights, I do not have access to my dogsays the 47-year-old man.

It’s demeaning. We’re like trash in the street that we just want to pack away so we don’t see it. I realize that life is made terribly expensive and unaffordable for low-income people.

With a social assistance income of $968 per month and monthly rent of $900, this ex-IT technician needs help finding that rare gem on the rental market. He is not the only one.

According to the Office municipal d’habitation de Montréal and the Société d’habitation du Québec, requests for help finding housing jumped by almost 100% in Montreal and across the province from 2023 to 2024.

In Quebec, 1,460 tenant households looking for housing who risk being without a lease on July 1 are actively supported by a rehousing assistance service. Of this number, 224 households are located in Montreal.

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The housing vacancy rate in several cities in the province has also reached unprecedented lows (Greater Montreal, 1.5%; Quebec, 0.9%; Trois-Rivières, 0.4%).

The housing crisis also puts enormous pressure on resources intended for people experiencing homelessness, such as the Mission Old Brewery in Montreal, which confirms that it is in high demand at the moment.

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July. Many people have known for several months that this could be problematic. [de trouver un logement], but they don’t push the panic button”,”text”:”It’s starting to get more and more intense as we get closer to July 1st. Many people have known for several months that this could be problematic. [de trouver un logement]but they don’t push the panic button”}}”>It’s starting to get more and more intense as we get closer to July 1st. Many people have known for several months that this could be problematic. [de trouver un logement]but they don’t push the panic buttonnotes James Hugues, president and CEO of the Mission Old Brewery.

We have 5,000 people this evening, at least. And it will increase in the coming years if we do not intervene upstream with people at risk of eviction.

% of people, we end up finding a place for them to stay. Often, it’s after the 1stJuly, when people are placed in hotels, and that’s where we find options, because that’s where the pool of 100% of people who have not found apartments can be identified.”,”text”:”For 75% of people, we end up finding them a place to stay. Often, it’s after July 1, when people are placed in hotels, and that’s where we find options, because that’s where the pool of 100% of people who don’t have found the apartments is identifiable.”}}”>For 75% of people, we end up finding them a place to stay. Often, it’s after July 1, when people are placed in hotels, and that’s where we find options, because that’s where the pool of 100% of people who don’t have not found the apartments is identifiable.

However, for David Gosselin, there are very few options at the moment. In any case, this tenant will have to move out before the fateful date of July 1st… accommodation or not.

With information from Gabrielle Proulx