Black Dossier FRAPRU Housing and poverty in Quebec: Figures and faces January 2009 The Canadian census is certainly not the best tool to get an accurate picture of living conditions in Native communities, several of them refused to cooperate. A recent report produced on behalf of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, however, tells us more on that subject.
Of 12,593 homes in these communities, 2419, 19.2% need major renovations, while others require 2282 minor renovations or repairs. In addition, 1,721 homes suffer from problems of contamination, elevated in 38% of cases. As if this were not enough, 4209 is currently overcrowded dwellings, representing 33.4% of the total. To address this problem, but also for other necessities such as population growth and migration of Aboriginal people who can not currently live in their communities, an estimated 8,800 new housing need for the next five years. Finally, 7,302 lots are poorly served by infrastructure.
The 2006 census tells us that by cons, about 9,565 homes in rural Inuit (Inuit Nunaat), no fewer than 45,335 are in need of renovation, representing 47.4% of the total.
Not better off community What the census allows us to glimpse, is the reality of 74,290 people reporting Aboriginal identity (2), but living outside their community. In this case, 19% of people live in homes requiring major repairs, this percentage is 27.0% when they live in rural areas and 13.8% in urban areas.
These figures do not include obviously another problem affecting Aboriginal people living in urban areas, that of homelessness.
A survey conducted in autumn 2007 by the TVA television network allowed him to assert that the number of Aboriginal and Inuit people living in homelessness in downtown Montreal had doubled in ten years. The Native Friendship Centre of Montreal puts the figure at 500, adding that these people are mostly struggling with serious problems of alcoholism and addiction. The assertion is so believable that it was taken over by the city of Montreal itself in a paper on homelessness presented to the Parliamentary Commission Social Affairs, September 29, 2008.
(Gaston Saint-Pierre and associates inc., The housing needs of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador 2000 and 2006) Secretariat of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador).
Homeless Regarding the situation of homelessness, the number of women in shelters has doubled in the last ten years according to the RAIIQ (group of homeless and itinerant Quebec document Spiral 2008).
What is difficult in homelessness is part of the census the number of homeless people being since they do not all go to shelters.
Some of these people will continue living with an abusive partner, others are walking in makeshift shelters, and there is even an older lady who walks her children to turn the last 4 years. All this so they do not end up directly in the street ... ....
Moreover, nearly 32 households whose main support is a woman have used our services in 2009. Most of these women are victims of domestic violence and want more than anything affordable and secure a roof over their head in order to regain stability and better living conditions.
Again ... The portrait is painted of renters, but what they look their homes? So we said the Black Dossier FRAPRU, the housing stock in Quebec's aging and deteriorating. Besides "owners' associations also recognize the magnitude of the problems of housing quality, but in unison they blame the current method of setting rents in Quebec, particularly given the adjustment for major work, which discourages in their view, the proper maintenance of homes.
[5] "Whatever
Who's to blame. The problem is still there and seems to be improving. Thus, in 2001 in the province of Quebec, 280 180 homes were found to require minor repairs, while in 2006, 325,900 units in need. That's an increase of 3.3%.
That same year, about 111,710 homes rented in the province of Quebec, 8.9% need major repairs (3).
The proportions are similar in our area: 25.2% (3555 units) of housing for renters require minor repairs and 6.2% (880 dwellings) repairs major. (4)
short, in Sainte-Foy/Sillery/Cap-Rouge, too many people still are paying a substantial portion, if not staggering, their income for housing properly. People believe that in our district, there is no poverty! It is clear that it is increasingly present even if it is hidden!
References:
(1) Statistics Canada. (2006). Census 2006. In a special order FRAPRU (2008). Table on the rate of effort renters in 2006 housing affordability. 1p.
(2) CMHC. (2008). Rental Market Reports, CMA Quebec Tables 1.1.1 & 1.1.2, p.11.
(3) Statistics Canada. (2001 & 2006). Census 2001 & 2006. & CMHC. (2000 & 2005). Rental Market Reports 2000 & 2005. In FRAPRU. (2009). Black File 2009; Housing and poverty in the province of Quebec. 2p.
(4) Statistics Canada. (2006). Census 2006. & CMHC. (2005 & 2008). Rental Market Reports. In a special order FRAPRU. (2009). Black File 2009; Housing and poverty in the borough Sainte-Foy/Sillery. 1p.
(5) People's Action Front on Urban Redevelopment & Study Group and action areas. (January 2009). Folder black housing and poverty in Quebec; figures and faces. 19 p.
V
SHELTER ALLOWANCE PROGRAM collapsed This program is unknown since 1997 and has always been doubly discriminated against single people below the age of 55 and 55 years and older.
The decree adopted by the Council of Ministers on July 7 and will enter into force on 1 October brings only minor adjustments to the program whose main parameters have not been reviewed since its introduction there are 13 years. As he made in 2008 and 2009, the Government merely to index the maximum income for accessing the program, as well as the maximum rent at which the beneficiaries do not receive government assistance. However, for the third consecutive year, the singles are not even eligible for such indexing.
When single people under 55, they are not entitled to housing benefit and when they are over 55 and can receive assistance, we do not give them the same benefits that other household categories. Thus, for individuals, the maximum rent covered by the program will remain at $ 428 per month in 2011, exactly the same amount as in 1998 when the program began. However, during the 2006 census, the average rent paid by people in Quebec alone was already $ 574 per month.
However, if the scale of income eligibility for individuals ($ 16,480) had been indexed to the poverty line is recognized 21,000, there would be only that more households have access to this program. That is a fact that does not correspond to reality today.
This program collapses while households in need. This will never be a comprehensive and sustainable social housing, but as for households that receive it, it can mean a grocery cart over.
The government must do the update while indexing the income and rental costs to the current reality.
VI
GOVERNMENTS Federal :
Regarding the federal government, there are unprecedented reversals! In 1994 he decided to stop investing in social housing. Since that time, there is lack of more than 50,000 social housing in Quebec. The amount
he has granted in Quebec during the last budget is around 89 million for housing, which represents around 240 units of social housing in Quebec! We demand that the federal reinvest 1% of its budget for social housing when we know there are billions of dollars into the coffers of sleep CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation).
Moreover, the agreement for public housing subsidized by the federal government coming in and the tenants in these buildings will be overnight to pay the full cost of their rent. Most of these households there will not be able to pay skyrocketing, what will happen there with these households in these buildings? Where will they go? Will it tend to turn these buildings to the private market?
In addition, the federal government wants to remove the long form (one in five) of Statistics Canada, how can we measure and analyze the reality and habits of Canadians?
And yet, the removal of the gun registry, a tool for public safety unless ... ..
Regarding the environment, it really is not a model!
So we can say that in the crosshairs of federal there is less democratic and less able to protect the environment. As there are more cons of surveillance and control as well as more farms using our natural resources to multinationals and not redistributed to the people!
Provincial :
During the last provincial budget the government announced that 3,000 units of housing for the next 5 years. Yet at the last election the Prime Minister had made a commitment to build 3,000 units per year for social 5 years. He did not keep this commitment! A gain! (December 20, 2010, the Minister Lessard made a commitment to social housing 3.000 per year for the next 5 years).
That's the design of the second plan to fight poverty! The needs are pressing and substantial in all four corners of Quebec. When Statistics Canada census of 2006, 203,000 renter households spent more Quebecois than half of their income on housing. With the economic crisis and shortage of low rent housing many households simply can no longer pay their rent.
The current government fails to meet the needs for measures that would increase personal income poorest. Not only did he abandon the fight against poverty, rising rates of Hydro-Quebec and is taxing your health!
This fall, we follow suit in the ranks of FRAPRU to claim 50,000 new housing units in five years!
Other Folder:
In terms of households at risk or homeless, the government did not grant money to municipalities for the implementation of emergency measures. The load is up to municipalities to manage this situation. If the SHQ
must pay in the implementation of emergency measures it has its say it must cut elsewhere.
Here in Quebec, we identified thirty households in need and a single household, class "special case", was entitled to emergency accommodation (OMHQ Statistics, August 2010). The assistance provided by our municipality was minimal with very strict criteria. This means that some households have found housing in the private sector, housing cooperatives, or they find themselves in overcrowded conditions.
One of the problems found is to spot low-income households with rented housing within their means too much to not be in the street. Except that one time, the rent is catching up! Moreover, the Régie has identified about 11,000 cases of nonpayment of rent in Quebec. The number of households in this situation continues to grow year after year.
Thus, we realize that the cost of rent is too expensive a major reason for homelessness has doubled since the beginning of this decade.
VII CONCLUSION
Before closing, as part of the Third World March of Women, the Women's Committee FRAPRU, which one is part, has collected testimonies of women in different cities of Quebec to make the document "Women, housing and poverty Getting out of a private social issue." It is available on the website of FRAPRU.
In conclusion, housing is not only a basic need, it is a right and have a decent roof over their heads, it's also about dignity.
act collectively is a societal choice! Continue our struggle for social justice!
Thanks!
[1] The rate is calculated for areas of Sainte-Foy, Sillery, Cap-Rouge & St. Augustine. Folder Black FRAPRU January 2009; special order FRAPRU (Census Statistics Canada)
[2] (5) p.12 FRAPRU Black Dossier; Housing and poverty in January 2009
[3] (5) P. 8
[4] Ibid .
[5] (5) p.14