It’s been 11 years since non-profit organization and citizens group Habitations Abordables Sutton started working on a social and affordable housing unit project for families in Sutton. The group faced years of delays, but it remained resilient and the project is finally coming to life. The construction of two buildings, for a total of 18 housing units, is expected to start as early as next week. 

France-Élaine Duranceau, Minister responsible for Housing, Isabelle Charest, Member of the National Assembly for Brome-Missisquoi, and François Bonnardel, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Eastern Townships, officially announced the project last week.

In a press release sent out by the Ministry of Housing, the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ) is allocating $2.1 million to the project as part of its AccèsLogis Québec program and it guaranteed the mortgage loan contracted by Habitations Abordables Sutton. The Town of Sutton is allocating nearly $5.1 million to the project, of which approximately $4.4 million comes from the agreements that the municipality has signed with the SHQ and the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation.

According to President of Habitations Abordables Sutton Kenneth Hill, a minimum of 50 per cent of the units can benefit from the SHQ’s Rent Supplement Program. If someone is not eligible for government subsidies, their rent is calculated based on a certain percentage of the total market area rent. 

“About seven years ago, we got back on track and got going, but by the time you find the property, mount up the plans, just getting things ready, it took time. Most of these projects take a long time for nothing,” said Hill. “(…) But all that to say, finally last fall we started getting back on track really. By late February we got the green light and all the financing together to go ahead with the project, which is needed just like in all other small towns.”

Hill added that construction is expected to begin next week and it is Dunham-based company Athena Construction that bid on the project. 

“Within the next week or so we will start construction and by the end of this year we should be ready to receive our families. We’re right in the middle of the process. I’ve signed the loans, I’ve signed the mortgages, I’ve signed all the paperwork needed for the financing of the project last week,” he mentioned. “The property, which was owned originally by the Anglican Church in Sutton, was sold to the municipality and then the municipality donated it to us. We are the owners of the property.”

Providing more details about the project, Hill said that Habitations Abordables Sutton is going towards “cooperative housing.”

“There’s a mortgage to repay over the years by the tenants because we will be going towards a ‘coop habitation’ and not a non-profit organization where the people that are there are just renting apartments. They’ll be a part of the project themselves,” he explained (…) “They act like co-owners. The people that will be taking part in living there, it will be like your’re living in your own home with your neighbours and you have an active part in making it work and cutting the costs down.”

Hill emphasized that the housing units are geared towards Sutton families with young children. There will be twelve units with two bedrooms and and six with three bedrooms.

“It’s to accommodate young families for intensive purposes. (…) They are not geared for people my age. We already have two buildings in town for people that are retired. What was so much needed in town was affordable housing for young families, either for the workers working at the ski hill or working in businesses in town, for the future,” he said. 

The lack of affordable housing resulted in families leaving Sutton, according to Hill. 

“Our problem right now is that a lot of our workers live in Cowansville or elsewhere and as soon as they find a comparable job there they stay there, they don’t come back to Sutton. With this we’re trying to keep the families that are already here and attract some that have left to come back. Some have made the suggestion that if there is affordable housing in Sutton they want to come back,” he noted. 

A public information session will be held later this spring for those interested in learning more about the project, eligibility requirements to rent one of the units, and more. It is to be announced at a later date. 

For the Ministry of Housing’s full press release, visit the Town of Sutton website.

CIDI reached out to mayor for the Town of Sutton Robert Benoît for comment on the social and affordable housing unit project and the municipality’s plans for other affordable housing projects in the village. 

To hear more from Habitations abordables Sutton and Benoît listen to the full interview below: