2012-2013 BUDGET - Press release no. 13 of 17 - $330 Million for Housing Construction and Home Adaptation

QUÉBEC, March 20, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - "Access to housing is an issue for all age groups. That is why the government will invest $330 million in home adaptation and the construction of 3 000 new social, community and affordable housing units," the Minister of Finance, Raymond Bachand, announced today in tabling the Québec government's Budget 2012-2013.

Of that amount, $180 million will be used to build 2 500 new units under the AccèsLogis program, including 2 300 units according to the current funding parameters and 200 units according to a new funding mechanism as part of a pilot project with the Chantier de l'économie sociale. Note that 1 250 of these units will be destined for seniors.

The Minister also said that $150 million will be invested over the next two years in home renovation and adaptation for vulnerable groups under various existing programs.

In addition, 500 units will be built under the private component of the Affordable Housing Québec program. This component supports small municipalities with a very low vacancy rate.

"This budget is the ninth in a row to include investments to increase the stock of social housing in Québec. Since 2004-2005, our government has added 22 000 social, community and affordable housing units for a total public investment of $1.5 billion. Including the initial objective of 13 000 housing units, which has been attained, this brings the number of housing units announced since 2002-2003 to 35 000," the Minister concluded.

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