You would like to transfer to the cooperative housing mode? Before you go any further in your research, it is important that you understand what is a housing cooperative and what living in one implies. In order to do this, we invite you to visit the Cooperative Housing section of our website or the website of the Housing Cooperative Movement.

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Programs and clientele

Different subsidy programs for special groups (low income households) make up part of the financing of housing cooperatives. According to its program, the cooperative reserves a percentage of its housing units to specific clientele.

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Two types of subsidies

• Rent Supplement (SAL) Rent supplement program (PSL)

Provincial subsidy establishing the rent at 25 % of the family income. The subsidy is reserved for low income individuals and families and for handicapped people or people who find themselves in an exceptional situation.

• Rent-geared to income subsidy (RGI)

Federal subsidy paid by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to the cooperative who must then distribute the amount received between its members who spend a higher percentage of their income to pay their rent. Reserved for the cooperatives under the Section 95 program.

Federal programs

• Section 95 program (formerly called 56.1 Program) : A minimum of 15% of housing units are subsidized according to the RGI (rent-geared to income)
  
• Section 61 program (formerly called 34.18 program : communities with mixed income, SAL PSL for certain projects according to the finances)
  
• ILM program: 25 % of households receive a rent supplement (SAL) from the Rent supplement program (PSL).

quebec programs

• AccèsLogis Québec, PARCO , (a buying-renovation program), RES-M (Résolution Montréal) : 40 % and more of the households receive a rent supplement (SAL)
  
• PHASOM : low rents according to finances
  
• PIQ (Programme intégré québécois) : some households receive rent supplement (SAL)
  
• LAQ (Logement abordable Québec) : No subside  to tenants. 75% of housing units  are reserved for low incomes individuals and families.
  
• PSBL-P program : PSBL-P is a distinct program where the household rent is calculated according to the By-law respecting the conditions for the leasing of dwellings in low-rental housing .

The procedure to follow to get a cooperative housing unit

Step 1 : Acquire the list of cooperatives in the Metropolitan Montréal

To consult the list of cooperatives listed by borough and municipalities, visit the Members section of our website.

To obtain the list of more than 440 cooperatives listed by sector, send in your written request with a cheque or money order for $7 made to the order of: FECHIMM, 3155, Hochelaga St. (suite 202), Montréal (Québec) H1W 1G4.

You can also get the complete list at the cost of $ 7 at our office between 9 am and noon and 1 pm and 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

To participate in an information session

FECHIMM also offers to the public at large, information sessions on housing cooperatives. By attending these sessions, the participants are made aware of what life in a cooperative is like and are then able to evaluate if the cooperative formula is made for them and answers their needs.

These information sessions cost $15 per person and are given twice a month. At these sessions, the participants fill in a form indicating their preferences in districts, committees they would like to join in the cooperative and any other relevant information.

The list of participants is then sent to our member cooperatives and becomes a list of potential candidates for cooperatives looking for new members. Please be advised that the cooperatives are not compelled to use this list. For more information on the information sessions or if you want to register, call us at (514) 843-6929, extension 221.

Step 2 : Select the cooperatives of your choice

Identify on the list the districts (1 to 10) in which you would like to live and in those districts, select the cooperatives you would like to join. Make sure you are eligible to the subsidy program in force in the cooperative or cooperatives you have selected.

2A : Special procedure for PSBL-P (low-cost cooperative housing)

The people interested in getting a low-cost housing unit in a cooperative from the PSBL-P program (programme sans but lucratif privé / private non-profit program), must communicate with FECHIMM to see if they are eligible.

For more information, consult the Central-Housing-Coop page of our website or communicate with Central-Housing-Coop at 514-843-6929, extension 226 or by email at clc@fechimm.coop. CQCH’s website (FRENCH) also gives out more information on this program via the PSBL-P program section. Please note that because there are a lot of applicants and very few housing units available, the waiting period for that type of unit could be quite long.

Step 3 : Hand in your application

To submit your application, you must write to the different cooperatives specifying :

• How many people are in your household and the size of apartment you want
• The approximate income of your household
• The reasons you want to become a member of a housing cooperative
• Your relevant work experience and volunteer work

Step 4 : Answers to your questions

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