Some 700 affordable apartments in Montreal to get renovated [Video]

Work is underway in Montreal’s Hochelaga neighbourhood to preserve an affordable housing community in place since the 1950s.

Gérer son quartier, which has run the 111 buildings that make up Habitations Le Domaine since 2017, wants to bring the building up to code, make important repairs, upgrade fire alarms and install elevators, among other renovations.

Marika Leclerc, head of the non-profit organization, said it’s crucial to maintain the city’s existing affordable housing stock as a non-profit and prevent renovictions — when a tenant is kicked out for renovations and the rent goes up. She said there are tenants who have lived in the building since 1958 who can’t imagine having to find a new home.

“At a certain age, the stress of living through that is very, very rough,” she said.

Housing advocates have long been calling on all three levels of government to build more affordable housing. But at …