STE-MARTHE-SUR-LE-LAC - More than six months after historic floods, residents of Ste-Marthe-sur-le-Lac learned on Friday they'll be receiving additional government assistance.
Earlier this month, many flood victims said they have yet to receive compensation.
Last spring the government announced up to $200,000 to flood victims who were forced to move; 6,000 people had to abandon their homes.
Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Andree Laforest said on Friday the Quebec government is offering affected residents a lump sum equal to the amount they will receive from Public Safety Ministry to cover personal property, doubling the amount the government has offered in the past.
The government said this strategy would allow flood victims to receive financial help quickly, without having to submit yet another claim.
"There is no additional step to take," she said in a news conference. "My ministry will send a letter and check to all eligible claimants who have filed a claim under the assistance program."
Resident Laura McGuigan expressed her frustration at the hurdles she's had to jump through.
"No matter what you do, you seem to get blocked somewhere with bureaucracy, paperwork. They want you to find estimates for the work to be done in your home and it's almost impossible. We haven't found one yet and we've tried more than 13 different companies. We're still waiting. We've had three of them come to the house, they promised to do it and they never show up," she said.
In addition, the Quebec Housing Corporation (SHQ) will implement a loan guarantee program to give a helping hand to those affected who need additional funding to carry out renovations.
The program will give them a loan guarantee for a mortgage for up to 95 per cent of the market value of their property, compared to the usual 80 per cent threshold.
- With files from CTV News Montreal's Cindy Sherwin
