To address the shortage that has existed in our country for several years, the Municipality engaged in a deep discussion which led to the adoption by the City Council, in March 2004, of a notice on the new housing policy. Confirming support for continuing to build moderate-rent housing by means of construction aid, this policy also provides several innovative measures: personal housing assistance favouring families with children, measures aimed at strengthening diversity within subsidized buildings for disadvantaged households, and an easing up on some rules in order to keep stable households in the neighbourhood.

This political trend falls under the Agenda 21 social objectives. Today, all of these measures are in effect and already demonstrate their effectiveness, to the satisfaction of the tenants and management who have agreed to work with community leaders

In June 2005, the Municipality took an additional step toward revitalizing the housing policy and responding to the shortage: it proposed to tie social objectives to ecological and economic objectives for sustainable development by building 3,000 new “sustainable” housing units. This new notice responds to the wishes expressed by the people within the participative initiative “Quartiers 21 - La parole aux habitants” [“Quartiers 21 - The promise to residents”].