Low-cost housing (HLM), community housing (non-profits) and cooperative housing strive to promote residential stability, social inclusion, self-determination and civic participation. Université Laval researcher Judith Lapierre examined the experiences of 112 tenants in nine regions of Québec and the perspectives of the people who work with them. She and her team also conducted a survey of 750 respondents.
The research revealed the informal local dynamics of mutual aid and solidarity, as well as the importance of these types of housing and community support. People expressed the importance of having access to quality affordable housing, and they felt that subsidized living environments fulfill these conditions. In all environments, people expressed greater satisfaction than dissatisfaction.
In cooperatives, tenants are involved in the management of the property and social affairs, and want to acquire more skills in these areas. In low-cost housing (HLM), tenants are calling for greater access to community support, and claim that the lack of support practices is detrimental to their quality of life. On the other hand, social activities are plentiful.
In non-profits, close ties seem to improve quality of life. The issue of food insecurity is addressed by various collective strategies (solidarity gardens and collective kitchens).
The role of community workers is essential, and is associated with better day-to-day management, improved quality of life and greater social and community participation. Prioritizing accessibility to support practices, building partnerships for prevention and supporting informal networks are key factors in meeting people’s needs.
To this end, the team has created a provincial directory of community support practices in social and community housing (SCLSC), in partnership with the Société d’Habitation du Québec (SHQ) and the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.