Sun Sep 15 16:44:01 UTC 2024: ## Quebec Housing Crisis Persists: No Relief Seen Two Months After Moving Day

**Quebec City, QC** – Despite the traditional summer slowdown, the housing crisis in Quebec shows no signs of easing. Two months after the peak of the moving season on July 1st, the number of households without a lease or seeking assistance has remained stubbornly stagnant.

According to the latest data from the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ), obtained by Radio-Canada, the number of households without housing or receiving rehousing assistance rose from 1,667 on July 4th to 1,671 on September 4th. The number of people temporarily housed in hotels or with relatives also increased from 413 to 487 during the same period.

This persistent crisis has a human face. Caroline Gariépy, a Lanaudière resident, lost her job in March and was evicted after missing rent payments. She is now living with her sister and struggling to make ends meet. “I didn’t think the housing crisis was that serious until I lived it for myself,” she shared.

The housing group Front d’action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU) attributes the stagnation to ongoing resolutions of existing cases coupled with a continued influx of new requests. “The housing crisis is no longer as concentrated on July 1st as it used to be,” said spokesperson Véronique Laflamme. “There are also individuals who hoped to find housing over the summer but have realized that it’s not working out and are now seeking assistance.”

FRAPRU is calling on the Quebec government to take immediate action, focusing on social housing construction. They are holding demonstrations in front of the National Assembly in Quebec City this weekend, urging the Legault government to prioritize the issue. “We need to make the necessary investments in social and community housing,” said Laflamme. “Failure to do so has a social and economic cost.”

While the government has committed to providing 23,000 affordable housing units by 2029, FRAPRU deems this target insufficient and is pushing for a more concrete social housing goal. They argue that the housing crisis disproportionately affects low-income individuals, highlighting the urgent need for more accessible units.

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