Photo by William Crooks
Normand Couture speaks passionately to attendees at the Ste-Famille Church, highlighting the urgent need for social housing and advocating against privatization of the site

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

On Nov. 22, the Association des locataires de Sherbrooke (ALS) gathered at the Ste-Famille Church in Sherbrooke to discuss federal housing announcements and advocate for the site’s preservation as a social housing project. The event coincided with the federal government’s unveiling of two programs under the Canadian housing strategy aimed at addressing the ongoing housing crisis.

Normand Couture, speaking on behalf of the ALS, opened the conference with sharp criticism of the federal housing strategy. “After seven years and billions of dollars promised, housing remains inaccessible for too many vulnerable people,” Couture said, referring to the initial $40 billion investment announced in 2017. He attributed the crisis to the commodification of housing, which has driven up costs and displaced renters. “It’s time to take housing out of the market and focus on social needs,” he added.

The federal programs introduced on Nov. 22 include the Affordable Housing Fund (FLA), designed to boost affordable and community housing, and the Construction Loan Program (PPCA), which largely supports private developers. Couture emphasized that such funds should be reserved for non-profit and social housing projects. He warned that the current framework could worsen affordability by inflating costs and perpetuating market-driven policies.

Linking the federal programs to local concerns, Couture spotlighted the uncertain future of the Ste-Famille Church. Once proposed as a 30-unit social housing project, the church was later considered for conversion into a library. Both proposals fell through, and residents now fear the site could be sold to private developers for luxury housing, which would exclude low-income families and potentially displace existing residents.

The Fleurimont neighbourhood, where the church is located, is a key focus of the ALS due to its socioeconomic challenges. Many residents lack access to books, libraries, and reliable internet. Couture stressed the importance of ensuring the space serves community needs, whether through housing or other inclusive initiatives. “This neighbourhood doesn’t need gentrification; it needs revitalization that helps residents stay in their homes,” he said.

The ALS also called on Sherbrooke city officials to prioritize social housing and actively pursue funding from federal programs to make projects like Ste-Famille a reality. Couture urged elected officials at all levels to address the depth of the crisis. “The plans for Ste-Famille are ready; now it’s time to act,” he said. He also reminded attendees of the city’s responsibility to ensure that new developments support affordable and community housing, particularly on municipally owned land.

Sherbrooke’s housing market has been under strain, with rising rents, evictions, and aging rental stock compounding the crisis. Couture noted that many evicted tenants are seniors who have lived in their homes for decades, often in units below market value. He criticized property owners who evict long-term tenants to raise rents or repurpose properties for higher-income renters, describing such actions as predatory.

The ALS highlighted the risks of following the path of downtown Sherbrooke, where redevelopment displaced many low-income residents under the guise of revitalization. Couture vowed that the Ste-Famille site would not face the same fate. “This land belongs to the community, and it must stay that way,” he stated firmly, emphasizing the ALS’s commitment to ensuring the site remains accessible and beneficial for local residents.

The press conference underscored the urgency of the housing crisis in Sherbrooke and the importance of federal and municipal collaboration. With federal funds potentially available, the ALS called on the city to act decisively, ensuring that the Ste-Famille Church becomes a beacon of social housing rather than a symbol of displacement.

As Sherbrooke continues to grapple with these challenges, the ALS remains steadfast in its mission to advocate for affordable and accessible housing for all. For them, the Ste-Famille Church represents not just a building, but an opportunity to address systemic inequities in housing and secure a better future for the community.