Housing urged for victims of domestic violence

In the face of an increase in domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, a coalition of community organizations is calling for investment in social housing in the next provincial budget.

The Front d'action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU), a social housing group, and the Alliance des maisons de 2ième étape pour femmes et enfants victimes de violence conjugale (Alliance MH2) said at a news conference Sunday that social housing is “essential” for women victims of domestic violence.

Alliance MH2 said the province is currently dealing with a dangerous shortage of resources in its second-stage housing — where women and children go once they leave emergency shelters, but before they find permanent housing.

The coalition is also calling for the opening of 106 units in second-stage housing — units for which approval is being awaited. The Alliance MH2 said it has been waiting for these new units for the past year and a half — a delay it calls “ridiculous.”

According to the coalition, only 66 per cent of women who leave second-stage housing were able to find affordable housing. FRAPRU is demanding the construction of 50,000 social housing units in the next five years.

From 2019 to 2020 alone, 75 per cent of requests for accommodation in second-stage housing in Alliance MH2 shelters in Montreal were refused and 37 per cent in other regions, the coalition said,

It has been nearly three years since the provincial government tabled a strategic plan to combat domestic violence and develop a network of shelters, said Gaëlle Fedida, political coordinator of Alliance MH2. “It is time to act.”

Céline Magontier, responsible for women's issues at FRAPRU, said “needs continue to grow with the shortage of social housing, the pandemic, the insecurity of Quebec society and, even more so, Quebec women.

“Social housing is being put into place in dribs and drabs,” she said. “It is unacceptable and (the government) must face up to its responsibilities.”