Water infrastructure financing program for the construction of affordable housing (FIERH)

Description

The Water Infrastructure Financing Program for the Construction of Affordable Housing (FIERH) supports municipalities involved in the construction of social, affordable or student housing, by financing drinking water and wastewater infrastructure work and the development of resilient and green stormwater infrastructure.

Presentation and objective

Access to affordable housing is a major issue in Quebec due to growing demand and limited supply. This need, once limited to large cities, is now felt everywhere. The causes are multiple: demographic changes, reduced diversity of the housing stock and an inflationary context. Added to these factors are the high costs of infrastructure, such as drinking water and wastewater networks.

The FIERH thus aims to promote the construction of social, affordable or student housing units.

For program details, please consult the FIERH regulatory framework  (PDF 470 KB) .

Eligibility

Eligible organizations are municipalities, regional county municipalities (RCMs), towns, villages, parishes, townships, united townships and the Kativik Regional Government.

To be eligible for FIERH, municipal infrastructure works must be associated with a reference project.

A reference project means a housing construction project which, in the year preceding an application to the FIERH programme, has benefited from financial support for the construction of affordable housing from either:

• from a department or agency of the federal government or the Government of Quebec, under a financial assistance program or a decree explicitly for the purposes of the construction of social, affordable or student housing – for example, a project financed by the Affordable Housing Program Quebec (PHAQ) of the Société d'habitation du Québec or another of its financial assistance programs;
• a financial assistance program from the Société d’habitation du Québec allowing low-income people to access adequate housing in this project;
• of a municipal body (local municipality, MRC, etc.), in accordance with article 84.2 of the Municipal Powers Act , paragraph 2.

Approach

The Quebec government is implementing the FIERH through a call for projects.

An eligible organization wishing to submit an application file must send a duly completed form and attach the required documents, namely:

• proof that the reference project has obtained financial assistance for the construction of affordable housing;
• a submission result or a progressive count of the work to be carried out or completed;
• a resolution of the council indicating that it has read the FIERH regulatory framework, that it understands the terms of the program, that it will assume all ineligible costs and that it is authorized to submit the application for financial assistance.

Filing an application

When a call for projects is open, you can submit an application by completing the FIERH  Financial Assistance Application Form 

Once the request has been submitted, an acknowledgement of receipt, including your file number, will be sent to you.

Following receipt of the acknowledgement email, you can submit the required documents by replying to this email. You can also use the following link, specifying your file number in the subject line: Transmission of FIERH documents.

It is essential to always indicate your file number when sending documents or any communication concerning your request.

Only duly completed applications accompanied by all required documents will be analyzed.

Selection process

The following criteria will be used for the selection of projects:

• Proximity to services such as a school, grocery store, etc.;
• Presence of a public transport offer, if applicable;
• Share of affordable housing in the reference project;
• Issuance of building permit.

Projects selected and aid granted

When the file is considered complete and satisfactory, a letter of promise of financial assistance is signed by the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

After the granting of this promise, a financial assistance agreement is sent to the beneficiary, who must comply with the obligations provided for, including the regulatory framework of the program.

Failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations may result in loss of financial assistance.

The Quebec government will ensure that a limited number of municipalities do not monopolize the bulk of the program's budget envelope.

Project monitoring

Recipients of financial assistance must periodically report on past and future expenses for all work subsidized by the program. An email will be sent to municipalities to invite them to provide the required information.

Aid granted

Financial assistance is payable in cash.

The beneficiary receives 50% of the financial assistance granted at the time of signing of the assistance agreement by both parties.

The remaining 50% is paid following the submission of an independent audit report deemed acceptable.