Canada/Affordable housing remains the top priority for seniors
Municipalities should facilitate access to such housing. Senior citizens' associations believe that access to affordable housing should be a priority for municipalities after next Sunday's elections.
The Bas-Saint-Laurent - Gaspésie section of the Association québécoise pour la défense des droits des retraités (AQDR) and the Carrefour 50+ de l'Est-du-Québec are saying exactly the same thing: municipalities must facilitate access to affordable housing for seniors.
Affordable housing is crucial. In Rimouski, there has been a very interesting effort, but elsewhere the situation remains difficult. There's a shortage of housing.
A quote from Richard Rancourt, President, Carrefour 50+, Est-du-Québec
In the same spirit, and a week ahead of the November 2 municipal elections, Pierre-Paul Malenfant, president of the AQDR Bas-Saint-Laurent et de la Gaspésie, says that municipalities have an important role to play in helping seniors stay in their homes.
If there's affordable housing, if there's access to recreation, to community activities, seniors will stay in their homes.
A quote from Pierre-Paul Malenfant, President, AQDR, Bas-Saint-Laurent - Gaspésie
For both presidents, this is a vital issue, especially as poverty is a reality in our regions.
They point out that 15% of seniors in our regions live below the poverty line, and 40% have incomes low enough to qualify for the Canada Pension Plan's Guaranteed Income Supplement.
They note that housing remains a problem even for seniors with some financial cushion.
If you sell your house for $140,000, try to find housing at that price in Rimouski - you won't find any! And rent for less than $1,000 isn't easy to come by!
A quote from Richard Rancourt, President, Carrefour 50+, Est-du-Québec
Added to the housing problem is that of getting around, which becomes more laborious as we age.
Both associations are calling for improved public transport.
Mr. Rancourt notes that many elderly people live in fear of losing their driver's license because of their state of health, which compromises their access to medical care.
It's inconceivable that in a region as vast as Eastern Quebec, there isn't a transportation service that allows people to go from one community to another to obtain services.
A quote from Pierre-Paul Malenfant, President, AQDR, Bas-Saint-Laurent - Gaspésie
The AQDR believes that public transit should be free for seniors, a proposition not shared by Carrefour 50+.
However, both associations agree that municipalities must support community efforts to prevent the closure of local healthcare services, such as emergency rooms or homecare, even if these services fall outside their jurisdiction.
They must play a leadership role [...]. Because if municipalities hide behind the fact that it's not their responsibility, the provincial government won't face much resistance.
A quote from Pierre-Paul Malenfant, President, AQDR, Bas-Saint-Laurent - Gaspésie
Both presidents point out that seniors are a vital volunteer force in their communities, as evidenced by their involvement in numerous sporting, cultural and leisure activities.
Mr. Malenfant concludes by saying that seniors remain active because they want to contribute to the development of their communities.
Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/
