The city of Montréal transfers 20 buildings to the SHDM for the development of non-market affordable housing

The City of Montreal and the SHDM are mobilized to offer sustainable solutions to the housing crisis. Two initiatives were approved by the Executive Committee on September 17, 2025.

First, the City is transferring 20 residential buildings to the SHDM, thereby ending the emphyteutic leases that bound them. This unprecedented transfer gives the SHDM a strategic lever to strengthen the supply of affordable housing.

The buildings concerned, located across several boroughs, are Autonomie+ or Pour tous properties and are already managed by the SHDM. Tenants currently living in these buildings will not be affected by the transaction.

“With this transfer of buildings, the SHDM will be able to guarantee the long-term affordability of the 882 housing units concerned, while also benefiting from an economic leverage effect to create new affordable housing. The value generated by this operation could help secure the down payment required for new projects representing between 200 and 300 non-market housing units,” explained Sophie Rousseau-Loiselle, Executive Director of SHDM.

A seed fund to accelerate projects

In addition, the City is supporting the SHDM with a $3.3M seed fund, intended to finance feasibility studies for several development projects. This support will allow the SHDM to accelerate the implementation of new initiatives, notably within the framework of the portfolio approach aimed at creating 1,000 non-market housing units, announced in spring 2024.

“These initiatives contribute to creating the conditions required for SHDM to fully play its role as the City’s real estate arm in achieving the objective of 20% non-market housing in Montréal,” added Sophie Rousseau-Loiselle.

To view the press release (In French only)
To read the article by Zachary Goudreault in Le Devoir (In French only)

Photo: Le Lambert Closse, an Autonomie+ building of 62 units, transferred by the City to SHDM