A. In Montréal, more than 20,000 households are waiting for low rent housing (hereafter “HLM”) whereas approximately 2,000 units become available each year. The waiting period may, therefore, vary from a few months to several years.
Several HLMs are managed by the Office municipal d’habitation de Montréal (OMHM), a para-municipal agency responsible for implementing the selection rules imposed by the Québec Government regarding the granting of units under its management.
Upon receiving an application, the OMHM first determines if the applicant meets the eligibility requirements in light of his or her economic and social conditions.
The order of priority, on the various waiting lists, is assessed by taking into account, notably:
- the applicant’s characteristics (family / spouses / single person, retiree, person in a wheelchair);
- the neighbourhoods requested;
- the expected housing category; and
- the number of rooms required.
This order of priority is determined according to a scoring system established and imposed by the Québec Government ; the OMHM must abide by this system. The OdM cannot, therefore, intervene to change the scoring system or the order of priority of a request. Every time a new request comes in, it is given an order of priority on, in accordance with this system.
A new file that receives a higher score will be placed ahead on the waiting list. HLMs are granted in accordance to this score and not on a “first come, first served” basis.
