As part of its mission, the SHDM (Société d'habitation et de développement de Montréal), a non-profit organization, provides affordable rental housing for Montrealers. The SHDM also promotes access to community-owned property for lower-income sectors of the population by purchasing buildings, renovating and transferring them to housing co-ops and non-profit organizations (NPO’s).

It is important not to confuse affordable housing with subsidized public housing, also known as lower-income housing (HLM). The latter are provided by the Office municipal d'habitation de Montréal (OMHM) and are reserved for people who meet specific admissibility criteria.

The rents for affordable housing provided by the SHDM are slightly below the average market price. SHDM housing is available to everyone, although lower-income individuals and people with integration difficulties or special needs are given precedence.

 

The SHDM’s inventory consists of 5,000 affordable rental units, divided as follows: 2,100 units managed by the SHDM itself. Half of these units are available to everyone, the other half are Independence+, units, which are reserved for pre-retirees and self-sufficient retirees 2,500 units managed externally by NPO’s and co-ops 400 rooms managed by community organizations and located in rooming houses

The SHDM manages its real estate inventory with the goal of achieving profitability and providing its tenants with high quality services, fixtures and fittings, while constantly striving to increase standards of living. Regular building maintenance is carried out by SHDM employees, and a team of gardeners takes care of groundskeeping and landscaping.

An emergency service is available to tenants 24/7.

Rental units are available for everyone – for any individual permitted to sign a lease who would like to benefit from an affordable rent. Tenants come from diverse backgrounds and are mainly made up of families and individuals.

These units are spread out across Montreal in different types of buildings. Duplexes and triplexes create a warm, family-oriented atmosphere, while multiplexes of up to fifteen units provide community-style surroundings. All rental units include: Regular building maintenance by SHDM employees Groundskeeping by gardeners 24-hour emergency service!

Some rental units include other benefits, such as:

• Free outdoor parking
• Access for people with restricted mobility
• Public transport within easy reach
• A metro station within walking distance
• Businesses, schools and parks close at hand
• A cycle path close at hand

And, like all SHDM housing, they are affordable!

Interested? Take a look at the list of rental units currently available in the Rental Housing section and read the text entitled Rental housing procedure.

Independence+ rental units are designed specifically for people aged 45 and over, pre-retirees and self-sufficient retirees. They are located in safe, comfortable residences, offering:

Entry phone Elevator(s) Concrete floors providing security and soundproofing Accessibility for people with restricted mobility Laundry facilities available to all Common room for various activities and meetings Landscaped garden with beautiful perennial and annual flowers Daily maintenance by a member of the SHDM staff 24-hour emergency service!

Some Independence+ rental units include other benefits such as:

• Climate control
• Apartments adapted for people with restricted mobility
• Pool
• Sauna
• Patio
• Indoor and outdoor paid parking
• Many conveniences close at hand, such as businesses, health care centres and churches

And, like every SHDM rental unit, you can rest assured that one which interests you will be affordable!

 

Interested? It couldn’t be easier! Look for the symbol in the Rental Housing section and read the text entitled Rental housing procedure.

If you would like to rent from the SHDM, here’s what to do:

Phone 514-380-SHDM (7436). We’ll let you know if the rental unit you want is still available and will answer all your questions.

If the unit described sounds like what you are looking for, set up an appointment to visit the rental unit.

If the visit went well and you are still interested, fill out and sign the Application for housing information form and send it to the SHDM by fax, in person or by mail at:

Société d'habitation et de développement de Montréal
800 boulevard De Maisonneuve Est, bureau 2200
Montréal (Québec) H2L 4L8

Phone: 514-380-SHDM (7436)
Email: info@shdm.org

Once you have visited the rental unit and we have received the correctly filled out form, the SHDM will process your request. If we receive more than one request for the same unit, the SHDM will handle them on a first come, first served basis. Once your request is in the system, it will be processed over a period of a few days to a week, during which time your unit is held in reserve for you.

If your application is accepted, we’ll set up an appointment to sign the lease. During the meeting we’ll take the time to explain the clauses in the lease and the building regulations.

All that will be left is to wish you a warm welcome to your new home !