Good afternoon.
Thank you very much.
I would like to thank my colleague, Ms. Coralie Le Roux, who is with me today.
It is a first for us to appear before the committee. We thank you for having us here today.
The Regroupement des offices d'habitation du Québec, or ROHQ, is a non-profit organization founded in 1972 that represents the 158 housing authorities throughout Quebec. The network of authorities includes more than 1,600 directors and 2,000 employees.
In total, Quebec's housing authorities are responsible for more than 52% of community and affordable social housing. They help more than 150,000 low- and moderate-income citizens. As agents and partners of the Société d'habitation du Québec, the authorities represent the municipalities responsible for some 106,000 housing units, including 65,000 low-income housing units and 41,000 social housing units under programs such as the Programme d'habitation abordable Québec and AccèsLogis, to name a few.
The ROHQ has been a major player in social housing in Quebec for 50 years, and it is in this capacity that we are submitting our comments and recommendations to you today. Operating in a business environment governed by standards, laws and regulations, and being public in nature, housing authorities are subject to strict management and accountability rules. The housing services offered to communities are therefore governed by rules that are based on the principles of transparency and compliance with laws, regulations and standards. Each housing authority operates under the guidance of a board of directors, which includes municipal and government appointees. Their governance is strong and rigorous.
Housing authorities actively contribute to economic and social development. As such, we are submitting comments today for a sustainable vision that will respond to today's major challenges in housing renovation and construction. Housing authorities are able to add value by providing a collaborative and integrated approach to their communities, which is notably based on accountability.
We believe that Quebec has a solution to the pressing needs of households. The very low vacancy rate, the rising cost of rent, and the number of households in core housing need—nearly 350,000 Quebec households, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation data—demand solutions. We feel that identifying federally owned buildings would be an appropriate approach to locating and targeting opportunities for the conversion and construction of social and affordable housing likely to maintain the existing social safety net.
The pandemic has changed the world of work in many ways, but it has also highlighted the importance of housing, and more specifically, social and affordable housing. Identifying federal properties in Quebec and transforming them into social and affordable housing would have the advantage of responding quickly and effectively not only to the critical needs of low-income households, but also to middle-class households, who are increasingly affected by the housing shortage.
Where the conditions for the disposal of federal properties are favourable, they encourage the acquisition of these buildings by social developers. In order to optimize the use of public funds from different levels of government, the transfer of federal property at no or reduced cost to social and community housing developers would be an incredible asset.
In the past, it has been difficult for social and community housing developers and managers to meet the conditions for acquiring buildings for conversion or construction of social and community housing. However, a few projects managed by housing authorities have been very successful in Quebec. These projects have favoured the creation of social and community housing, and they have also allowed the various community organizations to make their contribution and create living environments.
It would be advantageous if these conversion or construction projects related to federally owned buildings were undertaken as part of an approach that includes, among other things, the sustainable use of existing buildings built with public funds, an ecological contribution by avoiding, where possible, new construction, the development of available land into healthy and safe living spaces, and the mitigation, or even a significant and rapid reduction, of the housing shortage.
Social and community housing helps to combat poverty and promote the integration of vulnerable people. It is also a factor in improving—