Housing crisis amid a pandemic: Parc-Ex residents call for pause on evictions

WithQuebec's moratorium on evictions set to be lifted next month, residents of Montreal's Parc-Extension neighbourhood are worriedthe city's tight housing market could leave them with nowhere to go.

A caravan of cars and bicycles organized by the Comit d'Action de Parc-Extension drove through the neighbourhood Saturday to call for all evictions to continue to be paused.

"There's very little in the way of decent affordable housing available," said Amy Darwish, a community organizer with the group.

"There was already a housing crisis before the pandemic.We're genuinely worried that many tenants may find themselves on the streets."

Starting July 6, decisions rendered by the province's rental board before March 1 can be enforced. More recent decisions can be enforced as of July 20.

Mohammad Suleman received an eviction notice earlier this year from his landlord. After living in his apartmentfor 15 years, he says the building's owner wants to renovate and rent out the apartment to students at the new Universit de Montral campus in neighbouring Outremont.

"I don't know what to do now," he said at the demonstration. He lives in the three-bedroom apartment with his wife and four children.

With Montreal's vacancy rate at a 15-year low, three-bedroom apartments are scarce. When Suleman does find an available apartment, it costs triple what he pays now $680 per month.

A decision hasn't been madein his case yet, but with his landlord expecting him out by July 1, he's worried about what might happen now that the rental board is resuming activities.

"I'm so worried that I couldn't sleep at night," he said.

Before the pandemic, housing advocacy groups were already prepared for a crisis on moving day.

But with VilleraySaint-MichelParc-Extension beingone of the boroughs hardest hit by COVID-19, Darwish saidthe pandemic is making a difficult situation even worse.

In addition to pausing all evictions, the group wants more investment in social housing and for the Quebec government to convert itsrental loans program announced as part of emergency measures during the pandemic to grants.

"We find it unacceptable that lower income tenants are being forced into debt," Darwish said.