Residence Voices for Housing 

Actions taken from frustration: People stand up to fight for housing policy and human rights.

Citizens in the Little Burgundy are affected by the urban development, and a citizen committee was formed to advocate for their rights and influence in housing policy. 

April 4th, 2025

Due to the urban renewal for a new low-rental housing development, Little Burgundy’s citizens were requested to move out of the neighborhood by the City Hall in 1967. Since the residents’ lives have been affected, they decided to form committees to resist eviction and influence housing policy the City Hall. People’s freedom, voice and administration should be aware of urban renewal, in terms of both physical and human.    

Due to the demolition, residents were evicted, and 300 families of Saint Martin’s blocks received their expropriation notice in May 1967. One of the residents shared her story about eviction: “When I heard about expropriation, I was pregnant and felt so depressed, and I really don’t know where to go and what to do.” Although the city has helped people to find new houses, their freedom is not prioritized in this situation since they are forced to follow the urban development. They want to live in a place where they can call home, with a neighborhood and freedom. From the Burgundy’s residents, “We still want to live in Burgundy in good condition and freedom. We prefer our shack to these houses because at least we feel at home.” To raise their voices, a resident committee has been established. They joined the management and worked with the City Hall to influence the housing policy, including rent scale, law improvement, and human freedom. The local municipality has decided the rent scale will be based on 18% of the income of the head of the family. Laws become more flexible so that families can continue to live in housing originally designed for the citizens when their income increases. Also, the citizen committee will join in management for both physical and human development. 

The citizen committee was established as a residents’ representative and advocates for their rights, freedom and housing influence. They join the management to work with the executive committee of Montreal, municipal affairs or Quebec and local municipalities for the housing policy and freedom. 

Le Nguyen Thao Do

Public Relations student

239 762 633

LeDo12@gmail.com