Montrealers are renovating with record low vacancy rates

Patricia Higgins has lived in an apartment building in Pointe-au-Trembles, Montreal, for nearly 50 years.

He is now among those facing repairs, ordered to leave so the owners can make repairs3.

“I lost my home, my neighborhood, my neighbors and the friends I made here,” he said.

It's happening to him and others as Canada's rental prices soared last year, leading to the lowest national vacancy rate on record for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

“I looked for other apartments, they are more expensive,” he said. “I went to see nursing homes, but they were too small,” she said, not mentally prepared to live in a nursing home.

He said he tried to find a new place for him, speaking at the community center and at its entertainment events.

“Driving around the neighborhood. people tell me what they saw on the road while driving or walking,” he said. “I've been to all these places, I've been to most of the residences here, I've put my name down everywhere, and they're telling me they're on a two- to five-year waiting list.”

For the housing rights group, FRAPRU, the crisis has gotten worse over the past few years.

“Montreal, where the vacancy rate continues to fall, is also in all regions of Quebec with vacancy rates below one percent,” said Catherine Lussier of FRAPRU. “The balance has to be three percent, so we really have nothing affordable and rents have skyrocketed.”

After weeks of searching, Higgins found another nearby apartment complex with apartments on reserve for emergencies like evictions.

“Now that I have a new home, I feel better,” he said. “Physically, my blood pressure went up and I didn't eat for two days.”

He will move on April 1, three months before June 30, to receive higher compensation from the owners.

“Right now I'm paying $600 a month, which is low, but I've been here a long time,” Higgins said. “At the new place it's going to be $1,000, but service is included, so the amount they're giving me will cover the difference for a few years, but I don't know what I'm going to do after this point.”

FRAPRU is calling on the province to build 50,000 social housing units to combat the problem.

“This is all the responsibility of the Quebec government and they haven't really done anything to change it,” Lussier said. “So we hope that in the next budget they will at least invest what is needed to build enough social housing to meet the needs of tenants.”

In the meantime, Higgins says renters should be careful.

“It can happen to anyone, it's a shock to me, and you have to be able to protect yourself, you have to find resources,” he said.

Higgins said the volunteer, her colleagues at the local women's centre, Center des femmes de Montréal-Est/Pointe-aux-Tremble and the InfoLogis local housing committee helped her stay positive.

“I have to think this new place will be a change for me,” he said. “But I have to look ahead or I won't be able to do it.”