The Main Axes of the 2026-2029 Plan

• Acceleration of housing starts: Reducing administrative delays for the construction of new social and affordable housing.

• Geographical targeting: A concentration of efforts and investments in the Ville-Marie borough and the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (MHM) sector.

• Renovation of the existing housing stock: Upgrading aging buildings to ensure healthy, safe, and energy-efficient living environments.

The "Why" Behind this Geographical Targeting Why is the OMHM concentrating its efforts on Ville-Marie and Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve? The answer lies in the unique real estate pressure these two territories are facing:

• Ville-Marie (The challenge of diversity downtown): With the explosion of luxury condominium towers and the rise in commercial rents, the downtown core risks losing its low- and middle-income population. The OMHM's intervention aims to guarantee an essential social mix to maintain a vibrant 24/7 downtown, where essential service workers can still find housing close to their jobs.

• Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (Countering rapid gentrification): This sector in the East End of the island is experiencing accelerated gentrification, fueled by the arrival of young professionals and the improvement of transport infrastructure. This rapid transformation is pushing historic residents outwards. The OMHM's new social housing will serve as a "shield" to protect vulnerable households and preserve the neighborhood's historic social fabric.

The Impact on the Overall Real Estate Market

For real estate stakeholders, this strategic plan is a strong signal. The integration of well-designed social housing contributes to overall urban revitalization.

These projects are often accompanied by enhancements to public spaces and local infrastructure, which ultimately stabilizes neighborhoods and benefits the entire surrounding market.

Flagship Projects and Achievements To understand the scale of the 2026-2029 Strategic Plan, one must observe the construction sites currently getting off the ground.

Here are two major examples that illustrate the OMHM's strategy in the East End and downtown.

1. The "Bellerive" Project / Mission Unitaînés (Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve) This project is a model of financial and social innovation aimed at protecting seniors against the gentrification of MHM.

• The project: Construction of a 6-story building comprising 100 affordable and social housing units for independent seniors (65 and over). The building is adapted (elevators, air conditioning, parking for mobility scooters, common room).

• The partners (Developers): An unprecedented partnership between the charitable organization Mission Unitaînés (led by Luc Maurice), the City of Montreal, the governments of Quebec and Canada, and the OMHM (which will ensure long-term management).

• Budget and financial structuring: A government investment of $23.5M. The City of Montreal provided the land free of charge in addition to a financial contribution. A philanthropic donation by Luc Maurice allowed the creation of a $500,000 contingency fund for future maintenance.

• Timeline: Construction began in the summer of 2024. The completion of the work and the arrival of the first tenants are scheduled for spring 2026 (April 2026).

• Social and financial impacts: Rents are set at a very low average cost (approximately $595/month for a 1-bedroom apartment [3 ½], including heating, electricity, and Wi-Fi). This allows 100 senior households to remain in their home neighborhood, sheltered from rent hikes and renovictions.

2. The "Saint-Antoine" Project (Ville-Marie) This large-scale project aims to bring back and keep families in the heart of downtown, a sector where the price of land usually makes social housing impossible.

• The project: Construction of a building with 151 to 162 social and affordable housing units, specifically designed for families and individuals.

• The partners: The OMHM, the City of Montreal, and the Société d'habitation du Québec (via the Programme d'habitation abordable Québec - PHAQ), with a federal contribution.

• Budget: A project evaluated at $78 million. To make this possible, the City of Montreal acquired the land to transfer it to the OMHM under very favorable conditions.

• Timeline: The project recently passed its crucial approval stages and is among the priority construction sites of the new OMHM planning aimed at rapid deliveries in the 2026-2029 cycle.

• Social and financial impacts: By injecting more than 150 family units into Ville-Marie, this project counterbalances the proliferation of micro-condos. It guarantees that an essential workforce and low-income families can continue to participate in the economic and social vitality of the downtown core.