Shovels hit the dirt for Lévis’ largest affordable housing construction project

LÉVIS, QC – The governments of Canada and Quebec today marked the start of construction of the Espace Marie-Victorin in Lévis. This is the largest affordable housing construction project ever carried out in Lévis. Once completed, the three buildings will provide 104 units for individuals, families and independent and semi-independent seniors.

Construction of the Espace Marie-Victorin should be completed in the summer of 2018. This housing project of more than $23.5 million, developed by the Coopérative de solidarité Espace Marie-Victorin, is located on the site of the former city hall in Saint-Nicolas. In addition to including affordable units, the housing project will have spaces to house three community organizations.

The ceremony took place in the presence of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; Dominique Vien, Minister responsible for Labour, Minister responsible for the Chaudière-Appalaches region, Deputy Government House Leader and MNA for Bellechasse, on behalf of Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montréal region; and Gilles Lehouillier, Mayor of Lévis.

“Our government is proud to work in partnership on the development of the Coopérative de solidarité Espace Marie-Victorin. Seeing the construction of this long-awaited residential community begin is a source of pride for the community and for us all. Affordable housing provides much more than a roof over someone’s head; it improves the quality of life of the residents and contributes to the well-being of the whole community. Our investments help Canadians build better lives for themselves, their families and their children and also contribute to the prosperity of our country,” said Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Children, Families and Social Development and Minister Responsible for CMHC.

Highlights

• Through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ), the governments of Canada and Quebec are providing over $7.4 million for the construction of these buildings, under the Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement.
• The City of Lévis contributed nearly $4.5 million for the development of this project.
• More than $1.3 million in additional financial assistance over five years, assumed by the SHQ (90%) and the City of Lévis (10%), will enable the tenants of 77 of the 104 units to benefit from the Rent Supplement program, ensuring that they will not pay more than 25% of their income on housing.
• An amount of nearly $240,000 was granted by the Bureau de l’efficacité et de l’innovation énergétiques of the Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles to ensure that the buildings would meet Novoclimat certification standards.

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation