Québec solidaire (QS) urges the Legault government to build more student residences to counter the shortage of affordable housing on the private rental market.
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“There are fewer and fewer large flats for shared accommodation and small affordable flats”, lamented the solidarity deputy Andrés Fontecilla, responsible for housing, on Monday.
“Young people struggle to find suitable housing, which can lead them to have to end their studies or affect their academic success and their mental health. We need to build more student residences for young people in Quebec,” said the MP for Laurier-Dorion.
The left-wing formation specifies that only 8% of the student population is lucky enough to have a place in residence and is concerned about the situation in Sherbrooke where student residences are in high demand.
To make up for the delay in the construction of new university residences, QS proposes the exemption from property taxes be extended to all residences of all new post-secondary students, including CEGEPs.
“We have to make up for the delay accumulated over the years in terms of student residences,” added MP Fontecilla, recalling that 62% of student tenants earn less than $20,000 annually.
