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The Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal (SHDM) is a non-profit organisation which develops integrated real-estate projects in the residential, commercial, industrial and institutional sectors. It is a privileged partner of the City of Montreal in putting into practice its policies and objectives.

On January 1, 2007, the SHDM and the Société de développement de Montréal (SDM) were combined to regroup all categories of Montreal real estate management under the same roof.

The SHDM now owns around 5,000 affordable dwellings and some 15 rooming houses offering approximately 400 housing units. In addition, it manages about 20 commercial, industrial and institutional buildings totalling over 1 million square feet.

The SHDM also takes part in marketing new affordable housing units, including privately-owned or community-owned rental units, and provides access to property ownership through its Accès Condos program. It is also required to participate in major renovation projects in order to maintain its existing housing units in good condition, as well as in the City’s activities in the commercial, industrial and institutional sectors. In addition, the SHDM acts as a developer for projects of the Office municipal d’habitation de Montréal. In doing so, it contributes to the territory’s development and increases the value of the City of Montreal’s real estate.

In all cases, the SHDM advocates a partnership approach between the community and the public and private sectors by working closely with all local stakeholders in order to meet the need for affordable housing. It is a preferred intermediary between the City of Montréal and the public and private sectors.

The SHDM has five principal activities:

  • making new rental housing units, private or community-based, available at affordable prices;
  • building jointly owned residential projects under its Accès Condos program to facilitate access to property ownership;
  • participating in major renovation projects in order to maintain its existing housing units in good condition;

  • managing municipal assets, when requested to do so by the City;

  • acquiring sites or buildings for use and development;




In cooperation with the City and local stakeholders, SHDM initiatives provide solutions to the housing problems encountered by Montreal families, by increasing the supply and diversity of affordable housing units. Through the development of innovative projects, the SHDM responds to the need for housing, while also taking into consideration the particular means and requirements of families who reside in Montreal's various districts.

Unlike the Office municipal d'habitation de Montréal (OMHM) which offers subsidised social housing , the SHDM owns housing stock that is qualified as "affordable" and is managed in accordance with the rules and regulations that govern the residential rental sector. The SHDM therefore offers an affordable alternative to people who are not eligible for the low cost social housing programs offered by the OMHM.

What’s more, the SHDM has developed unique expertise as the owner and manager of affordable housing units, in particular with regard to:

  • revitalisation of neighbourhoods by means of partnership strategies involving local community organisations;
  • acquisition, management and renovation of properties;
  • management of agreements and support for managing organisations.

The SHDM plays a unique role on the island of Montreal in matters of revitalisation of neighbourhoods and also offers technical and administrative support to non-profit organisations and co-ops that work in the social housing sector. By allowing various non-profit organizations to manage properties, it encourages the involvement of residents and local groups and develops dynamic partnerships with many stakeholders.

The SHDM is an agent for positive change in the social housing sector due to its intervention in areas and projects where the private sector will not intervene, as well as through its intervention in specific projects when requested to do so by the City.


The SHDM also contributes to Montreal’s development by promoting its real estate assets. It achieves this by planning and coordinating the promotion of these assets through private sector involvement.

Accès Condos

The SHDM thereby implements integrated real estate projects with a mainly residential function.

The SHDM’s intervention in run-down neighbourhoods helps revitalize these areas and attracts other real estate projects in proximity to its own. Its presence creates an economic upswing in neighbourhoods which just needed a helping hand.

The Accès Condos program was established in 2005 in order to facilitate property ownership and reduce urban flight.

This program supports the development and marketing of affordable condominiums in the City of Montreal.

This initiative’s popularity stems from the 10% purchase credit loaned by the SHDM for use as a downpayment when purchasing a condo.

Commercial, industrial and institutional sectors

The SHDM acts as a catalyst for development in neighbourhoods targeted by the City of Montreal. Its interventions take many forms and change according to the circumstances of the site, the market and the partners. This flexibility has enabled it to act as developer for certain projects, to partner with the private or public sectors or to organize calls for tender to determine the most suitable promoter.

For example, the SHDM was a major partner in the development of the Cité du Multimédia and currently takes part in partners’ efforts by coordinating the marketing for the municipal sites it owns, by establishing commercial projects and supporting in particular the development of cultural projects.
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