Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist
GASPÉ – The official groundbreaking for the Han-Logement project, which will consist of building 32 affordable and accessible housing units, took place on August 26. This $10.3 million project, located on Forest Street, is set to accommodate individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities or those with autism spectrum disorders. The first tenants are expected to move in by July 1, 2025.
The Government of Quebec is providing $5.6 million to the project through the Société d’habitation du Québec and the Government of Canada is contributing $222,343 through the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund.
Desjardins is injecting $3.2 million in mortgage financing, the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ is injecting $800,000 in long-term capital, and the Town of Gaspé is contributing the land and a tax credit for a total of $443,000.
These homes will be affordable. “They are affordable because there is a subsidy from the various levels of government but also because we will offer the rent supplement program and tenants will not pay more than 25% of their income in rent,” explains the Minister responsible for Housing, France-Élaine Duranceau.
“We are looking to increase all types of housing in Quebec. This one is for clients who live with a disability and this group that is leading the Han-Logement project is a community group that is very effective in the way it builds housing and makes it available. We are delivering in a shorter time frame and within a tight and reasonable budget. For me, this is a project to support and see repeated elsewhere in Quebec,” adds the Minister.
The Han-Logement Gaspé development will consist of four buildings with 32 units, including 24 one-bedroom units and eight two-bedroom units. It will feature landscaped outdoor spaces, easy access, proximity to services and private parking.
Stakeholders are also planning for a second phase of the project. “We agreed with the Town to look at this. With the land acquired, there would be the possibility of adding units. When we signed for this land, we were given a challenge and we are looking at when it would be possible to do a phase 2. Maybe other projects. There are several requests,” says Han-Logement President and Chief Executive Officer Anik Roy Trudel.
The group’s goal is to raise $100,000 for each complex built. Dr. Thierry Petry has already contributed $100,000 to the Gaspé project. “It’s an excellent project. He wanted to move quickly. We organized ourselves to move quickly,” says Mayor Daniel Côté.
The project came to fruition in less than two years. “We worked extra hard to be on the fast track and we’re already seeing the results. A second phase is planned and we’re ready to hand it over. It’s a model to follow. The developer arrives with plans and specifications. He also has his builder and financiers attached. When he knocks on our door, he’s ready and needs land and for the zoning rules to be changed quickly,” says Mr. Côté.
According to the mayor, between 16 and 32 additional units could be added in a second phase. Each apartment costs around $300,000.
“We’re very rigorous. We have a model and here, it’s our 2.0 model that we’ve been using for six years. This allows us to know it very well and optimize costs. Our contractor is on the ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth building. He knows how much it’s going to cost him and how long it will take. That’s the predictability of the model. But it’s a challenge,” agrees Ms. Roy Trudel.
These new housing units in Gaspé are part of Han-Logement’s second project supported by the Desjardins Affordable Housing Initiative in partnership with the Quebec and Canadian governments, following a 24-unit affordable housing development in Rivière-du-Loup.
The developer also has plans for other locations in Gaspé Peninsula, with a potential project in Chandler. “We’re finalizing the details. There’s a whole preliminary project phase where we do analyses at the land level. We have to agree with the deed of donation of the land. Things are going very well despite some minor issues and we are hopeful of announcing the start of construction next year,” says Ms. Roy Trudel.
New Richmond and Sainte-Anne-des-Monts are also in the plans. “We want to go around the Gaspé and expand to the Lower St. Lawrence. We have several towns that are approaching us. You will definitely see us again in the Gaspé. The secret is a town that has the drive and wants to get on board with us. That’s the ingredient we need to start a project,” she concludes.
In fact, a building with 24 affordable housing units has been built in Rivière-du-Loup. It already accommodates people living with a physical or intellectual disability or with an autism spectrum disorder.