Housing: An essential need that is getting more difficult to meet

Essential needs
June 27, 2022 •  By Centraide
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Greater Montreal is grappling with a severe housing crisis.

What does a housing crisis look like?

Scarcity: Lack of housing

Unaffordability: Surge in rent prices

How much does it cost to rent a two-bedroom apartment in Greater Montreal?

The biggest surge since the early 2000s.

While rents are highest on the Island of Montreal, the Laval region is experiencing a sharp increase too.

Two-bedroom apartment. Variance over two years (2019-2021).
*Partial data depending on availability.

Many neighbourhoods severely impacted

Most of these neighbourhoods have a significant number of low-income residents.

Neighbourhoods with an over 15% variance over two years (2019 to 2021) for any type of unit (studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, etc.)

Cause for worry

Thousands of people currently experiencing extreme vulnerability

  • Many are forced to live in inadequate housing, i.e., units that are too expensive, too small, poorly insulated, or substandard.
  • Some people have to stay with family or live with many other people under the same roof.
  • Others are on the street.

Something can be done

For people in a situation of poverty, solutions to these issues include developing social housing and implementing crisis measures to support people who are homeless or who are facing a housing issue. Community agencies supported by Centraide help implement these solutions.