It is still difficult to find even more affordable housing in Trois-Rivières and the announcement of the continuation of the conversion of the former Kermaria Convent of the Daughters of Jesus into social and affordable housing for seniors and independent and semi-autonomous 65 year olds will make a difference.
Quebec gave Accès Logement Trois-Rivières $8 million to create 69 units: 51 three-and-a-half-room apartments and 18 studios. In total, the provincial government has invested nearly $18 million in the project.
This was announced in 2017, but the pandemic and rising costs pushed the project back. The latter has been delayed due to recent increases in construction, financing and insurance costs that have unbalanced the financial structure of many housing projects.
The new vocation of the convent makes the Daughters of Jesus proud: “It is important for people who are less fortunate than us, our charism has always been to be close to the small and the needy,” explained Sister Monique Brûlée, Regional of the Daughters of Jesus from Canada
These new affordable housing units have been well received by organizations in the region: “This is good news! It will relieve the Trois-Rivières rental fleet. The vacancy rate is 1%,” explained COMSEP General Coordinator Sylvie Tardif.
Renovation work will start next winter and interest is already being felt. 3 years ago, in a survey, more than 150 people expressed interest in the new devices that will see the light of day sometime in 2025.