Quebec solidaire calls out CAQ for housing issues affecting women
With July first, and the end of many leases in Quebec, right around the corner, Sherbrooke MNA Christine Labrie gathered with Québec solidaire housing critic Andrés Fontecilla and the members of several local organizations defending women’s rights on Wednesday to denounce what she said was a lack of adequate resources from the Coalition Avenir Quebec(caq) for women living through experiences of conjugal or sexual violence.
“Last week, when Quebec was hit by its 13th femicide of the year, Minister Geneviève Guilbault said that the CAQ had done everything it could to prevent such tragedies. That is false. Not only is the CAQ not meeting all the needs expressed by organizations helping victims of domestic and sexual violence, but it is also not acting to combat the housing crisis by increasing the supply of affordable housing available, even though it is one of the keys to protecting (these women) and ensuring their exit from violent environments,” Labrie said. “Without access to affordable housing, victims of violence remain trapped in environments that are dangerous for their safety.”
Labrie was joined in her criticism by representatives of the CALACS-ESTRIE support centre for victims of sexual assault, and the l’escale de l’estrie women’s shelter.
“The lack of affordable housing in Sherbrooke keeps women trapped in situations of violent sexual exploitation,” said Kelly Laramée, who spoke on behalf of CALACS-ESTRIE to point out that although some women would like to get out of sex work the effort to do so often puts them in extremely precarious financial situations that are nearly impossible to get out of without significant support and/or resources. “Accessibility to housing is very problematic for these Sherbrooke women who are trying to improve their living conditions,” she added, sharing that rents in parts of downtown Sherbrooke have doubled or tripled in recent years, often without any clear justification, and pointing out that women of colour, with physical limitations, or who are indigenous often suffer even greater challenges at the hands of landlords who openly discriminate against their differences.
Marie-zoé, who spoke on behalf of l’escale, said that her organization has become distinctly aware of the housing shortage in the area based on the number of women on the waiting list for the nine spaces available in the shelter.
“Women need a safe place to take shelter, and the existing resources are overwhelmed,” she said, arguing that it should be the government, and not overburdened community organizations, picking up the slack when it comes to caring for this vulnerable population.
The l’escale representative also shared a concern that as the pandemic restrictions are lifted incidences of conjugal violence will likely increase, as many controlling partners may have been taking advantage of stay at home orders or limitations on public gathering to maintain a tight grip on what happens at home.
Fontecilla, meanwhile, called on the CAQ to commit to building 10,000 new social housing units per year for the next five years, in light of the fact that there are currently 38,000 families in Quebec waiting for access to affordable housing, 800 of whom are in the Sherbrooke area.