Centraide of Greater Montréal launches a working group on housing

Montreal, June 8, — Centraide of Greater Montreal is proud to announce the creation of a new working group to identify current housing issues, gather detailed insights, and recommend long-term solutions as well as common indicators of success. This working group will consist of recognized experts from a range of sectors (community, philanthropic, institutional, private, academic, and research):

  • Martin Alain, Service de l’Habitation, Ville de Montréal
  • Hélène Bélanger, Department of urban studies and tourism, UQAM
  • Yves Bellavance, Coalition montréalaise des tables de quartier (CMTQ)
  • Marjolaine Deneault, Coalition of Housing Committees and Tenants Associations of Quebec (RCLALQ)
  • Marie-Andrée Farmer, Foundation of Greater Montreal
  • Carole Freulon, Direction de santé publique de la Montérégie
  • Catherine Gagné, Service de la culture, des loisirs, du sports et du développement social, Ville de Laval
  • Sophie Goudreau, Direction régionale de santé publique de Montréal
  • Mazen Houdeib, ROMEL
  • Heather Johnston, Projets Autochtones du Québec
  • Sylvio Manfredi, Direction de santé publique de Laval
  • Fimba Tankoano, Concertation Horizon
  • Jean Tremblay, Direction de la culture, du loisir et du développement social, Ville de Longueuil

Additional strategic partners will join in the coming weeks. Meetings to establish an action plan will begin June 23 and continue until the fall.

This group’s output will lay the groundwork for Centraide of Greater Montreal to initiate a broad mobilization that will support agencies and neighbourhood round tables responding to the effects of housing issues. The goal behind this mobilization is to bring stakeholders together to set ambitious objectives and concrete targets and implement systemic, long-term solutions that address current issues.

“It is essential to set ambitious goals for social transformation, question our approaches to collective issues and realign our focus. This requires a collaborative and innovative dialogue with citizens, community organizations, constituency representatives, institutions, businesses, and governments. Having a safe and healthy place to live should not lead to poverty or increase inequality. Housing and its decisive impact on poverty and exclusion will therefore be the top priority in these discussions,” says Claude Pinard, President and Executive Director, Centraide of Greater Montreal.

About Centraide of Greater Montreal

Centraide of Greater Montreal is an agent of change active in the territories of Laval, Montreal and the South Shore. It supports a network of 350 agencies and collective projects each year. Centraide receives support from businesses, organizations and the general public. The money it raises is invested on the basis of needs analyses in each neighbourhood and community within its territory. Centraide’s strategies and actions are aimed at fighting poverty and social exclusion to improve the living conditions of people in vulnerable situations. Organizations supported by Centraide of Greater Montreal help more than 800,000 people each year.

About the Foundation of Greater Montreal

The Foundation of Greater Montréal (FGM) serves, and listens to, its community. In collaboration with its partners, it mobilizes philanthropic resources, disseminates knowledge, sparks new initiatives, and supports the community, with a view to furthering the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in Greater Montreal. FGM aspires to the development of a community that will be free from poverty and discrimination, where all can realize their potential and live in a healthy environment, both today and in the future.