St. Francois MNA Geneviève Hébert, Havre des Pins VP Louise Véronneau, Executive Director of the Federation of Housing Cooperatives of Estrie Guillaume Brien, Sherbrooke MP Élisabeth Brière, and Director of the CPA Fund Clévid Cabrera. Photo by William Crooks

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

The governments of Canada and Quebec, in collaboration with Fondaction, have announced a $13 million investment to support affordable housing through the expansion of the Havre des Pins housing co-operative in Sherbrooke. This project represents an innovative approach to homeownership and is a first in Canada, according to an Aug. 16 press release.

The announcement was made on Aug. 16 during a press conference at the Havre des Pins co-operative site. Guillaume Brien, Executive Director of the Federation of Housing Cooperatives of Estrie, led the conference, and highlighted the significance of the project in addressing the housing crisis: “Havre des Pins is a unique project in Quebec. It is a significant innovation in the co-operative and housing sectors, particularly during this housing crisis,” he said.

Sherbrooke MP Élisabeth Brière, speaking on behalf of Minister of Housing Sean Fraser, underscored the importance of such projects to the local community. She noted in the press conference, “Over the past decade, many middle-income households have been left out of financial aid programs for housing while lacking the resources to become homeowners. Housing remains a key concern for the people of Sherbrooke, and projects like Havre des Pins provide a much-needed solution.”

Brière added that the federal government is committed to supporting these initiatives through the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund (AHIF), which is investing $6 million in the Havre des Pins project.

St. François MNA Geneviève Hébert expressed her excitement for the expansion of affordable housing in the region. Speaking at the press conference, she stated, “Today, we mark the progress of the second phase of an extraordinary project. Affordable housing is critical across all regions, and this project innovates with its homeowner co-operative model.”

Phase I of the Havre des Pins project, completed between 2020 and 2022, saw the construction of two 24-unit buildings. Phase II, now underway, will add three more buildings with a total of 80 additional units. According to Brien, the units are sold at 25 per cent below market price due to partnerships with financial institutions and government support. “This pricing model is designed to make homeownership more accessible, particularly for middle-income households who are struggling to buy homes in the current market,” Brien explained during the post-conference question period.

The Quebec government has contributed $7 million to the project through PRIMAccès S.E.C., a $90-million fund that aims to build 1,000 affordable condominium units across Quebec within five years. This contribution is part of a broader collaboration with Fondaction, a Quebec-based fund dedicated to promoting housing innovation.

The Havre des Pins project stands out due to its cooperative ownership model. Unlike traditional condominiums, residents purchase a portion of the property, while the rest remains owned by the co-operative. Brien emphasized that this approach fosters community and shared responsibility among residents, noting that “cooperation is key to these projects, and it brings people together in ways that traditional housing does not.”

As part of the project’s ongoing development, 17 out of 24 units in the first building of Phase II have already been pre-sold, with the remaining units expected to be sold by the time residents move in this fall. The success of the Havre des Pins project is inspiring other municipalities in the Eastern Townships, including Waterville and Sutton, to explore similar co-operative housing models.

With the completion of Phase II, the co-operative will continue to expand, delivering much-needed affordable housing to Sherbrooke. Hébert expressed confidence that the project would meet the diverse needs of local residents, from families to single individuals and seniors: “This model provides people with the opportunity to become homeowners in a cooperative arrangement, ensuring that affordability is maintained over time and across generations.”