Life, city | Enrich Park-Extension Brick by brick

Our journalist walks in Greater Montreal to talk about people, events or places that make the heart of their neighborhood beat.

Posted yesterday at 8:30 a.m. Meanwhile,

“We cannot do community housing without making community organization. Therefore. Nevertheless, ” says Faiz Abhuani, while city employees deliver tables and tents at the organization’s community center which he founded, brick by brick, for the party – called the Monsoon festival – scheduled the next day.

Brick by brick is to offer more affordable life, city | enrich park-extension new housing in the multicultural Parc-Extension district. Nevertheless, But for its founder. Therefore. For example, it is important, beyond real estate, to have an life, city | enrich park-extension anchoring in the vicinity to facilitate meetings and create a mutual aid network. Meanwhile, In other words, brick by brick could have been called link by link.

The Fête de la Saint-Jean “Parc-Extension version” of last Tuesday. Nevertheless. Moreover, which took place at the Dickie-Moore park, on Beaumont avenue-just in front of the brick-aimed “to fuel conversations and break isolation”, but above all to star the talents and the experience of people in the life, city | enrich park-extension new neighborhood, whether artistic or culinary. In addition,

A first major project under construction – Life, city | enrich park-extension

Brick by brick has existed since 2016. Nevertheless, Its first major project of 31 outside market homes is currently under life, city | enrich park-extension new construction on the avenue de l’Épée. Therefore, north of rue de Liège. Moreover, Last life, city | enrich park-extension September. In addition. the City of Montreal granted the organization a subsidy of $ 650,000, which was added to the sale of the land.

However. brick by brick had issued community obligations (we will come back to it). which also made it possible to buy the building on rue Beaumont where he elected home, which belonged before to the owners of the Le Bilboquet glacier.

Faiz Abhuani wanted to have a place in life, city | enrich park-extension new the neighborhood with doors open to all. life, city | enrich park-extension “We are solving several housing problems with the community center. ” he said. citing as an example a tenant of the neighboring building who was ousted, but who was able to relocate with the help of people she meets at Brique by Brique. Additionally, “When you make community organization. you create bonds of friendship or mutual aid that can go very far,” says Faiz Abhuani.

According to Mr. Abhuani, the “silo” housing crisis should not be tackled. People who are struggling to find a suitable apartment experience other related problems.

“If five children study in the same room. maybe there will be failures at school and an integration problem,” he illustrates.

In its premises. brick by brick has a space called djtal, a studio with DJ equipment easily accessible for young people. There is also the Office of the Act Organization (which protects the rights of migrants from sexual diversity). those of the Metonymymy publishing house. Other organizations “have the keys”. illustrates Faiz Abhuani. including the Curry Collectif de Parc-Ex, a catering service that allows newcomers to work by cooking authentic South Asian dishes.

Life, city | enrich park-extension new

Life. city | enrich park-extension

The model of community bonds

Faiz Abhuani would like to have a larger community center in order to welcome more people. but above all to make sure everyone meets more. He dreams of life, city | enrich park-extension new a life, city | enrich park-extension coffee, a third place, a shared workspace … “We lack the chances of creating links. »»

Brick by brick also leads a second social housing project, hence the current community bond campaign aimed at raising $ 5 million.

Many people who are railing against the housing crisis. the Sucvregeoise invest without knowing it in companies or funds participating in it, according to Faiz Abhuani. Unknown. community bonds make it possible to have a return on its investment (up to 5 %) for local projects. that are close to their hearts. “Community obligations are an investment recognized by the AMF (Financial Markets Authority),” he says. They allow an organization to create an asset that has a social impact. »»

For Faiz Abhuani. it is important for his organization – which is counting on life, city | enrich park-extension new a team of life. city | enrich park-extension 12 people – not to “wait after subsidies” and to “create wealth in a responsible manner”.

Regarding the community obligations issued for the purchase of the Beaumont avenue building. brick by brick had set itself as a prudent objective of being able to reimburse investors over a period. of 15 years. But the increase in land value has made it possible to be achieved in three years. “Instead of suffering from gentrification. we take advantage of it. with the richness that is created, we give back to people,” sums up Faiz Abhuani.

The social entrepreneur believes that more organizations are needed like hers who are managed “with assets”. as businesses, to have a long -term vision.

Certainly. the one who moved some 25 times at the start of his life knows how reassuring it is to have roots in a neighborhood. a place that we define as a house. “It is impossible to have a garden in a single season,” he illustrates wisely. And “it’s violent” to force the place where you live.