In Conversation with Faiz Abhuani of Brick by Brick

Faiz Abhuani, real estate agent and founder of Brick by Brick, a community organization that builds social housing for people in the neighbourhood of Parc-Extension discusses the housing market in Montreal and how it intersects with Montreal's homeless crisis.

Abhuani talks about how Parc-Extension, a neighbourhood in Montreal that is home to many diverse cultures, and fabled as one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Canada, is subjected to gentrification. In this neighbourhood low-income families out are being pushed out as higher class individuals are coming to the neighbourhood with the new development of the University of Montreal campus in Parc-Ex. Abhuani also discusses other factors generating a housing crisis in Montreal, including gentrification in other Montreal neighbourhoods, low vacancy rates and rising rent prices, as well as how the pandemic is altering these things. Abhuani also discusses "renovictions", this is where landlords evict tenants to conduct renovations, often rising up the rent following the renovation, and how this provides little housing for lower class individuals in Montreal.

He also discusses the importance of social housing to provide space for low-income folks and to prevent people from falling into homelessness. Abhuani has first hand experience with social housing and understanding how it helps Montreal, as he builds and provides social housing for Montrealers through his organization Brick by Brick.

Abhuani provides recommendations of how individuals can reduce rising rents and provide more equality in our society through housing, including lease transfers as a means to prevent landlords from rising rents following the end of a lease. 

This is a full interview, parts of this interview have been used in the series Local 514. Episode one is available here. 

This interview was conducted on December 9, 2020.