The MP for Châteauguay-Lacolle, Brenda Shanahan, the MP for Châteauguay, MarieChantal Chassé, the Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, Ratitsénhaienhs, Alan John Rice and the Director of the Regional Federation of OBNL Housing of Montérégie and Estrie (FROHME), Martin Bécotte, recently announced the acquisition, by FROHME, of the Motel le Rustik in Châteauguay with the aim of converting it into 31 social and community housing units.
From left to right: Brenda Shanahan, MP for Châteauguay-Lacolle, Martin Bécotte, Director of FROHME, Éric Allard, Mayor of Châteauguay, MarieChantal Chassé, MP for Châteauguay, Alan John Rice, Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, Ratitsénhaienhs and Alana Kane, Manager – Mental Wellness and Addictions.
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This project, whose housing will be reserved for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, is made possible thanks to an investment of $6 million under the Second Canada-Quebec Agreement concerning the Initiative for the rapid creation of housing piloted by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ).
MNA for Châteauguay and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economy and Innovation, Innovation, MarieChantal Chassé, was proud of this agreement.
“Community housing is a real priority for our government. I am very happy to have worked so hard on this project which will fill a real need in the region. These 31 social housing units will support the most vulnerable populations and ensure their safety. This project is a fine example of collaboration between the community, the federal government, the provincial government and the Kahnawake community,” she explains.
Future tenants of the building could also benefit from additional housing assistance under the Rent Supplement Program of the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ). This assistance, which could reach $3.5 million over 20 years, will be assumed 90% by the SHQ and 10% by the City of Chateauguay.
The Second Canada-Quebec Agreement concerning the Rapid Housing Initiative was announced on February 22 by the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, the Honorable Ahmed Hussen, and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and from Housing, Mrs. Andrée Laforest. This agreement provides for investments totaling nearly $338 million throughout Quebec, which will allow the construction of 1,458 social and affordable housing units by the end of 2022.
“Our government is proud to allow the Rustik project to be carried out; a project that should serve as a model and help address housing issues across the country. When I was a social worker, I was able to see the difference that this type of resource can make in the lives of people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. I am particularly happy that this promising and innovative project is seeing the light of day with us and in partnership with the Kahnawake community. I would like to congratulate the FROHME for its remarkable work,” said MNA for Châteauguay-Lacolle, Brenda Shanahan.
Partnership with the Kahnawake community
A minimum of five units will be reserved for members of the Mohawk community of Kahnawake. Kahnawake Social Services and the Montérégie-Ouest Social Services Health Center are committed to supporting future occupants by helping them integrate and stay in their new home.
The Mohawk territory of Kahnawake being a few hundred meters away, the FROHME quickly undertook to establish a partnership with the community, which agreed to accompany the future tenants from their Nation.
Speaking, the Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, Ratitsénhaienhs, Alan John Rice expressed his satisfaction with this progress. The community says it is happy to take part in this concerted project which makes it possible to find innovative ways to respond in part to the tightening of the rental market and which strengthens ties with their neighbours.
The Motel Rustik: an interesting choice to carry out the project
The organization will take possession of the building on March 31, 2022. Public funding and the expected acquisition and renovation costs are $5,982,544. Work will begin as soon as possible and the accommodation will be delivered before December 31, 2022.
The building housing the Motel Rustik represents an interesting choice for carrying out the project for several reasons: the building is in good condition and allows for relatively rapid transformation, its geographical location places it close to the Mohawk community of Kahnawake and it is served by public transport, in the heart of a TOD (Transit-Oriented-development) area, which promotes access to services for the targeted people.
In addition, the furnished studio model is very rare in regional county municipalities (RCMs) and neighboring towns, even though it is particularly coveted. “This transformation and the renovation of the building will breathe a certain dynamism into this sector of the city, which is a bit moribund, we must say, and will promote a new social mix”, adds the director of the FROHME, Martin Bécotte.
Other partnerships were established from the outset to support and assist tenants, in addition to the CISSS of Montérégie-Ouest and Kahnawake Social Services. These two organizations will form a standing committee of partners so that the project is firmly rooted in the community and will be invited to participate: l’Élan des jeunes, the House under the trees, Sourire sans fin, the municipal housing office of Châteauguay (OMH) and the Maison des jeunes de Châteauguay.
From left to right: MarieChantal Chassé, MP for Châteauguay, Alana Kane, Manager – Mental Well-Being and Addictions, Martin Bécotte, Director of FROHME, Brenda Shanahan, MP for Châteauguay-Lacolle and Alan John Rice, Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, Ratitsénhaienhs.
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