By Simon Cordeau (local journalism initiative)
It’s official: Viv’en logis, the social housing project for people with disabilities in Sainte-Adèle, will see the light of day, after five years of effort. The members of the board of directors announced it to the Adeloise and Pays-d’en-Haut community last Wednesday, November 13.
Viv’en Logis will offer 20 units of 3 1/2 to independent adults living with the autism spectrum, a mild intellectual disability or a physical disability. Thanks to government subsidies, they will only pay 25% of their income for their rent.
The project is currently under call for tenders to find a contractor. Groundbreaking should take place in December, and construction work will begin next spring. It then takes between 1 and 1.5 years before the building is ready.
The administrators, several of whom are parents of an autistic adult, have worked voluntarily since 2019 to make this project possible. The project was delayed by the pandemic and, in the meantime, its cost has doubled. “Viv’en logis is an obstacle course. It is a Way of Compostela and a Way of the Cross. But this is nothing compared to the journey of people with disabilities who, every day, have to face headwinds. So our inspiration comes [d’eux]. […] They are inspiring people,” underlined Michel Bélanger, vice-president of the board of directors (CA).
A living environment
Viv’en logis will above all be a living environment, it is emphasized. Tenants will have access to a multipurpose room, to share meals or gather around recreational activities. There will also be a shared kitchen, terrace and community garden. The administrators also want the place to be “open to the outside world” and to welcome organizations and the community. CISSS des Laurentides stakeholders will also have access to an office on site, thus ensuring a regular presence in the building.
The building will be built on land behind the Sainte-Adèle church. It will therefore be within walking distance of shops and services, Lac Rond and its beach in summer, Parc de la Famille and its shows, etc. This accessibility is important, since some residents do not have a car or cannot drive. On three floors, the building will have large windows with views of Sainte-Adèle and its mountains.
Living in community
The residents of Viv’en logis will be taxpayers and not beneficiaries, it was emphasized. The majority are employed, some for decades, and are actively involved in the community and social causes as volunteers.
“They have the right to aspire to the same kind of life as us. We have abilities that, unfortunately, some people have less. But when well surrounded, they are capable of giving them to each other. […] To meet these people is an honor,” declared Christian Jasmin, board member and owner of three IGA stores in the region.
However, finding affordable housing is difficult for them. Thus, many must stay with their parents or spend a significant part of their income on housing. Viv’en logis will not only allow them to be independent, but also to break isolation, to be supported by their peers and to live in a safe environment. The project will also remove stress from parents’ shoulders.
Fundraising campaign
On the budget estimated at $10 million, administrators estimate a shortfall of $500,000 between now and next May to complete the project. They are therefore appealing to the community and its generosity with a fundraising campaign.
Citizens can make a donation on the Viv’en logis website. “We aim for collective well-being, integration into the community and a safe environment. Your contribution will complete our vision and ensure that reality will live up to our hopes for these people who deserve it so much,” says the organization.
