The mission of the Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal (SHDM) is to participate in putting into practice the policies and objectives of the City of Montreal by helping develop its territory and increase the value of its real estate through the completion of integrated residential projects that have a ripple effect and promote financial independence.

It is a privileged partner of the City of Montreal in putting into practice its policies and objectives.

Intervention methods

The SHDM’s intervention revolves around the following major axes:

• participating in the revitalisation of neighbourhoods by adding value to existing properties and integrating new residential, commercial, industrial, community, cultural and institutional facilities;
• promoting individual home ownership by marketing new affordable housing units and facilitating access to jointly owned housing by moderate income individuals through the purchase and renovation of buildings, and their transfer to housing cooperatives and non-profit organisations (NPOs);
• providing sound management of its housing stock in order to ensure profitability and, where the residential sector is concerned, improving the quality of life of tenants by prioritising a clientele with moderate incomes, integration difficulties or special needs;
• facilitating the assumption of managerial responsibilities by local community NPO’s in the case of certain buildings with a more specialised function;
• fostering the retention and return to the downtown area of owner-occupiers by acquiring sites and developing integrated real estate projects with a residential, commercial, industrial, community, cultural and institutional function;


• helping achieve municipal objectives in real estate development matters by intervening in various strategic projects and by acting as a catalyst to stimulate private enterprise;

The SHDM has a dual mandate: to both manage and develop real estate. It manages assets while seeking profitability and, at the appropriate time, the transfer of ownership to the private sector. It administers municipal real estate assets when requested to do so by the City. In terms of development, it acquires sites or buildings for use, and plans and coordinates their promotion by partnering with the private sector.