A directory of vacant rental units in the Haut-Saint-Laurent

(Written By Mario Pitre - Translated by Cathleen Johnston) Anyone seeking a rental unit in the Haut-Saint-Laurent will now have access to a new directory that lists all housing in the territory including vacancies. This directory was assembled by the Association pour la Défense des Droits Sociaux (ADDS) in Huntingdon, in collaboration [caption id="attachment_45173" align="alignright" width="210"] Edgar Malboeuf and Yanick Huet explain project details.[/caption] with the Haut-Saint-Laurent MRC whose web site hosts this new directory. According to Edgar Malboeuf, spokesperson for ADDS Huntingdon, there was no way to identify available housing in the extensive Haut-Saint-Laurent territory. "Citizens and new residents looking for housing had to search street by street in order to find the best offer to meet their needs." The directory is accessible through a dynamic map to be found on the web site www.mrchsl.com. "We have a directory of some 2 400 dwellings in the territory based on assessment rolls from the municipalities. The map indicates whether a unit is available or occupied," explained Malboeuf. The inventory is updated incrementally as units become available. ADDS Huntingdon is calling on landlords with vacant units to be in contact by calling 450-264-6888. "We want people to stay in the area and we want to encourage the arrival of new residents to the Haut-Saint-Laurent," says a press release from ADDS Huntingdon. The committee will also be able to use this data to develop a strategic plan for new affordable and adapted housing projects where they are needed.