The housing affordability crisis is hitting Montréal-Nord harder than ever. Many people do not have access to affordable and adequate housing, and face problems of unsanitary conditions. The candidate for mayor of Montréal-Nord, Will Prosper, is proposing 4 concrete measures to guarantee access to housing, as well as ensure the quality of housing:
1. Make Montréal-Nord a Montréal priority for the development of social and affordable housing.
There is a significant gap between the need for social and affordable housing and the units actually available. Real estate development planning will be done with partners to ensure the construction of social and affordable housing.
Sectors will be targeted to enforce the city of Montréal's right of first refusal, which means ensuring fair and equitable development of social housing.
In addition, a social housing advisor position will be created within the urban planning team.
2. Implement Responsible Landlord Certification to control rent increases and combat unsanitary conditions.
North Montrealers are victims of abusive rent increases and renovictions. Will Prosper and his team will work with the city to implement a certification for landlords of buildings with 8 or more units, or with housing developments.
They will also be required to file professional reports that validate the condition of common areas; systems (electrical, heating, ventilation, fire protection, etc.); units (health, safety); facades; and the building maintenance plan.
3. Housing revitalization plan that will upgrade, renovate and improve the energy efficiency of buildings.
Many buildings in Montréal-Nord are in need of renovation to maintain them, to improve the quality of life of residents, and to reduce their carbon footprint. A revitalization program will be put in place, in collaboration with partners such as the Greater Montreal Climate Fund.
4. Expanding access to social housing
Montréal-Nord welcomes many newcomers, but they do not always have access to decent housing. Work will be done with the Service de l'habitation to change the rules of the Société d'habitation du Québec, in particular by encouraging it to abolish the clause limiting access to social and community housing only to people with the status of citizen or permanent residency.
"The right to housing, beyond guaranteeing a roof over one's head, means guaranteeing decent, healthy and safe housing. We will fight for access and quality of housing, and to ensure that North Montrealers can stay in their communities," said Will Prosper, mayoral candidate for Projet Montréal-Nord.
