Subsidized Housing

Subsidized housing allows low-income households to pay rent equal to 25% of their income.

There are two types of subsidized housing:

• Low-rental housing (HLM)
• Housing units under the Québec Rent Supplement Program, which may be part of the private rental market or owned by housing cooperatives or non-profit housing organizations (NPOs)

How to Apply for Subsidized Housing

Step 1: Contact a housing organization

The first thing to do is to contact your housing office.

• For the Montreal Metropolitan Area, applications for subsidized housing can be made to any housing office present on its territory
• If you are looking for housing elsewhere in Québec, contact the housing office that manages the housing properties of the municipality where you want to live

Other housing organizations such as NPOs or housing cooperatives can also help you.

To find contact information for housing offices, NPOs or housing cooperatives, consult the Directory of Organizations (French version)

Step 2: Apply for subsidized housing

Several housing offices provide tools on their website to facilitate applying for housing, such as a list of housing offers or an online application service.

Some housing offices offer a Housing Search Assistance service to help you find subsidized housing. By contacting them, you can get information on how to obtain social or community housing (steps to follow, forms to fill out, supporting documents to provide, process, deadlines, etc.).

Step 3: Consult the list of available HLM units

In January 2026, 111 HLM units are available in several regions of Québec.

In exceptional circumstances, you may be able to have access one of these units even if your household income exceeds the maximum eligible income. However, households with the lowest incomes are given priority.

In addition, you may be able to get access to a unit located in a region other than your current place of residence.

The units have 1 to 5 bedrooms and are intended for:

• Seniors
• Families
• Single people
• People living with a disability

Consult the list of vacant housing (PDF 132 Kb) (French version)

For any information on this subject, contact the Housing Office responsible for the housing unit that interests you.