Helping housing non-profits expand

Last updated July 3, 2025

Do you manage a non-profit that develops and manages off-market housing in Montréal? Do you want to increase the impact of your organization? The city can support you with financial assistance of up to $600,000 for your expansion project.

Description

Achieve 20% off-market housing by 2050

This call for projects is part of the city’s goal of reaching 20% off-market housing by 2050.

It is aimed at non-profit organizations that are active in the areas of development and management of non-profit housing. Its purpose is to help these organizations expand their reach by leveraging an increase in their organizational capacity to develop and manage a larger building stock.

Initiatives supported may include:

  • Organizational structuring and professionalizing
  • Strengthening expertise in real estate development
  • Consolidation or merger of organizations as part of a growth strategy
  • Innovative approaches such as new business models, o service, asset or employee pooling, etc.

The total budget earmarked for this call for projects is $2 million.

What is an off-market home?

Off-market rental housing is housing that is owned by an entity with a social mission (such as a cooperative, non-profit organization, paramunicipal corporation or social utility trust) and remains affordable on a long-term basis. Homes that remain affordable in the long run through resale price control, such as homeowners’ cooperatives, are also considered off-market housing.

Learn more about actions the city is taking to increase the supply of off-market housing.

Financial assistance

The following conditions apply: 

  • Amount of financial contribution: Between $200,000 and $600,000 per project
  • Maximum share funded by the city: The amount requested from the city cannot exceed 60% of the total cost of the project
  • Total government assistance: The sum of all government assistance (federal, provincial and municipal) cannot exceed 80% of the cost of the project
  • Deadline for completion: Projects must be completed within a maximum of 2 years 

Important: 
The city’s contribution must be used exclusively to implement the expansion project. Expenses related to the pre-development, planning, implementation or management of a real estate development project are not eligible.

Eligibility

Eligible organizations

To be eligible, your organization must meet all of the following criteria: 

  • Be a non-profit organization legally incorporated in Québec 
  • Have its head office within Montréal city limits or hold a substantial share of real estate assets there
  • Have off-market housing stock in Montréal
  • Be active in planning and implementing real estate projects
  • Demonstrate sound financial and governance practices, and not be under the control of a for-profit related company
  • Not be in default with the city 

Eligible projects 

The project should allow the organization to increase its capacity to develop off-market housing. It must be accompanied by an organizational development plan that includes the following elements: 

  • Expansion project objectives
  • Ability of the organization to achieve these objectives and/or identification of current gaps filled by the project 
  • Technical and financial resources needed to implement the project 
  • Jobs created or consolidated as part of the scale-up 
  • Planned organizational chart
  • Financial forecasts for the 3 years following the application
  • Financial structure of the non-profit organization and financial sustainability of the project
  • Real estate strategy or planning

Information meeting

Join our virtual information session on Monday, June 16 at 1:30 p.m.

Calendar

You have until July 17, 2025 to submit your project application. 

Please allow approximately 4 to 6 weeks after submitting your application for the decision to be announced.

Submit a project

Documents to submit 

  • Completed project submission form (available via the “Submit” button below)
  • Detailed budget for your expansion project (template provided by the city).
  • A summary of the objectives and planned actions (template provided by the city)
  • The organization’s letters patent or deed of incorporation
  • A list of board members and people assigned to the project and their roles (template provided by the city)
  • Résumés of directors and people in charge of the expansion project
  • Current organizational chart (including vacancies, if applicable)
  • Document presenting the past achievements of the non-profit housing development organization
  • Organizational development plan that includes, at a minimum, the elements set out in the accompanying guide
  • Board resolution authorizing the applicant to submit the application
  • General by-laws of the organization
  • Audited financial statements for the past 2 years
  • Letters of agreement with contributing partners (if applicable)
  • Certificate or attestation of francization (if applicable)