Discussion scheduled with Minister Duranceau regarding Quebec solidarity
Quebec's housing crisis has prompted Minister Duranceau of Housing to agree to a meeting with the political party Quebec solidaire to discuss potential reforms to the regulations governing social housing units, specifically the possibility of permitting cohabitation.
"I am delighted and pleased that Minister Duranceau has agreed to a working meeting imminently," said Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, interim co-spokesperson for Quebec solidaire, in an interview.
The meeting, scheduled for this Wednesday at the National Assembly, follows a query from a Quebec solidaire representative of Saint-Henri-Sainte-Anne, who asked the minister last week if it would be feasible to consider cohabitation in social housing units where extra rooms are available. The current regulations deny such arrangements.
"The regulation governing the allocation of low-rent housing indicates that in dwellings with more than one bedroom, it is not possible to share them with someone who is not a family member. For example, when, in a family, the children become adults and leave the family home, these dwellings often end up with an extra room, and what is proposed is that these rooms be made available for cohabitation," the representative explained.
Cliche-Rivard projects that with this proposal, several hundred individuals in Quebec might have the opportunity to secure a room in social housing. He acknowledges the administrative challenges that this opening of regulations would entail, particularly in instances of dispute.
"Of course, that's one of the things I want to discuss with the minister [on Wednesday]. What do we do, for example, if one of the cohabitants wants to leave due to disagreements? Anyone who has cohabited understands that it can be challenging, and undeniably, there will have to be some management. However, in the current housing crisis, the disadvantage that could be caused by somewhat more on-site management versus someone on the street who is heading towards a shelter seems to me to be entirely proportional to the investment and energy that will be devoted to it," he argued, while acknowledging that adjustments may be necessary if the arrangement does not work effectively.
The Federation of Social Housing Tenants estimates that approximately 10% of the 30,000 units in the social housing portfolio are under-occupied, suggesting a potential number of 3,000 rooms. However, not all dwellings carry the same social value, and municipal housing offices will not allow dwellings with three bedrooms or more to become mini-rooming houses.
"Large dwellings will continue to be dedicated to families because there is already an impressive waiting list for families who need three bedrooms or more. The waiting list for families is already quite long as it is," the representative admitted.
Cliche-Rivard is aware of the impact this solution will likely have and expressed appreciation for the Minister's openness to collaboration. He cited the bipartisan approach that has already produced housing-related outcomes, such as the work of his colleagues Christine Labrie and Andrés Fontecilla with Minister Duranceau last year to establish an eviction moratorium and strengthen protections for seniors against evictions.
"This is the same kind of collaboration I hope to have with the minister by the end of this session, and I would like to see this implemented quickly so that it can take effect by July 1 - that's just a few weeks away - so that people who unfortunately end up on the streets on July 1 can have access to several hundred social housing units instead of being directed to different shelters."
Cliche-Rivard has already received favorable responses from some cities regarding this possibility, including Sherbrooke, Montreal, and Longueuil.
In terms of broader implications, allowing cohabitation in social housing units could offer more flexible housing solutions, potentially reducing demand on the social housing stock by preventing multiple households from requiring separate units. However, it also introduces significant challenges related to safety, legal recognition, and unit management, and its impact on the housing crisis will depend heavily on the implementation framework and supportive social policies accompanying it.
"Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, interim co-spokesperson for Quebec solidaire, expressed his satisfaction about the upcoming meeting with Minister Duranceau of Housing to discuss potential reforms in social housing policies, specifically the possibility of permitting cohabitation within social housing units."
"The proposed cohabitation policy in social housing units, if implemented effectively, has the potential to provide housing solutions for several hundred individuals in Quebec, as estimated by Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, while also reducing demand on the social housing stock by preventing multiple households from requiring separate units."
