Housing crisis: 500 prefabricated housing units delivered in 2026, promises Minister Duranceau

Minister France-Élaine Duranceau promises that 500 new prefabricated housing units with “affordable” rents will be available from 2026 for low-income Quebec households and that they will be of good quality.

“You will judge me by the results!” says in an interview the Minister of Housing, who has experienced her share of controversies and criticism during the mandate, while Quebec is experiencing a housing crisis.

The Société d’habitation du Québec will launch, during the day of Thursday, a call for projects for the accelerated construction of these pre-manufactured multi-dwelling units of studios or apartments with one (3 and a half) or two bedrooms ( 4 and a half).

In recent months, consortia have been found. It is the turn of towns and villages as well as cooperatives and private companies to come forward. They have until March 12 to indicate their interest and submit their project.

But be careful, those interested will have to be ready to draw if they want to take advantage of the fund to accelerate the construction of housing under the Canada-Quebec Housing Agreement.

“We will choose them based on: are they ready to leave? Is the city on board and that she identified a piece of land? Is this land decontaminated? Is it possible to easily connect it to the water infrastructure? points out France-Élaine Duranceau.

Less than $500,000 per accommodation

She maintains that the choice of modular makes it possible to “cap the construction prices a little” and deliver within more reasonable deadlines. So, we are not talking here about housing at $500,000 per unit.

“It is certain that it will be lower than that and we will be able to deliver within shorter deadlines,” the minister firmly believes. Without skimping on quality, she adds in the same breath. “It’s just as good, if not better in some ways” than traditional construction.

She is committed to ensuring that the 500 prefabricated housing units will be available next year for individuals and families with modest incomes. “We are going to give them the go in spring, at the end of spring 2025, then spring-summer 2026, they will be delivered, then people will start to enter them”.

Those who operate these pre-manufactured homes will have to rent at “affordable” prices, as set by the SHQ.

But, in some municipalities, the maximum authorized rents are relatively high. In the Montreal region, an affordable studio apartment can cost up to $817 per month, without electricity and heating. In Quebec or Gatineau, the monthly price of a studio can easily cross the $700 monthly mark.

Maximum monthly rents for Affordable Housing Program units

Montréal

• Studio: 817$
• One bedroom: $944
• Two bedrooms: $1062

Laval

• Studio: 817$
• One bedroom: $944
• Two bedrooms: $1062

Longueuil

• Studio: 817$
• One bedroom: $944
• Two bedrooms: $1062

Gatineau

• Studio: 734$
• One room: $925
• Two bedrooms: $1119

Québec

• Studio: 709$
• One bedroom: $899
• Two bedrooms: $1043

Saguenay

• Studio: 538$
• One bedroom: $608
• Two bedrooms: $795

Gaspe

• Studio: 582$
• One bedroom: $696
• Two bedrooms: $884

Source: Quebec affordable housing program, Société d’habitation du Québec

*Electricity, heating and hot water costs are not included in the rent.