Encouraged by the Table de Quartier Sud de l’Ouest de l’Île (TQSOI), citizens, elected officials, businesses, and community organizations gathered at the Beaconsfield Community Housing Forum to discuss one of the region’s most pressing yet overlooked issues: the lack of community housing in an area widely known for its affluence.

Despite the West Island’s reputation for a high standard of living, the TQSOI says there are “hidden pockets of poverty”—residents struggling to access affordable housing in a market that often leaves them behind.

“Access to affordable housing is a big problem for a lot of people,” said Alena Ziuleva, Executive Director at TQSOI. “We might think that everyone is wealthy and has no problems, but that’s not the case. Many people are living in difficult situations. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for those in vulnerable circumstances and to promote social development.”