Quebec

Subsidized Housing

Complex application

The Subsidized Housing Program program is intended for low-rental households selected based on your income and housing conditions.

The help available under the Program takes the form of a subsidy granted by your housing bureau, allowing you to pay less rent.

If you are approved for this program, you will get to pay rent equal to 25% of your income from last year. This rent includes heating costs.

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)

You qualify for the Subsidized Housing program if you have a low income and satisfy the following tenant eligibility criteria:

  • You can meet your own basic needs (personal care and everyday household chores), either independently or with help from an outside resource or personal carer.
  • You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and live in Québec.
  • You lived in the landlord’s selection area for at least 12 of the 24 months preceding your application.

Some people, in exceptional circumstances, may be given priority over the waiting list. They include domestic violence victims and people whose homes have been accidentally destroyed.

Documents listed in this section are examples of what can be included with your application. Please review the application instructions (How to Apply tab) to confirm the supplemental and required documents for this benefit.

Social Insurance Number

For example:

  • confirmation of SIN letter
  • plastic SIN card (non-expired)

Step 1: Contact a housing organization

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.

Step 2: Apply for subsidized housing

Housing offices provide information 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

There are currently 298 HLM units 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 280 Kb) (French version)

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

Last reviewed: September 28, 2026