Shelter Allowance Program: More Low-Income Quebec Households Will Be Eligible

QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Oct. 18, 2012) - Effective October 1, 2012, the age of eligibility for the Shelter Allowance Program of the Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ) is 53 years for singles and couples who meet the other program criteria. For the year 2012/2013 alone, this represents an investment of $3.4 million, and it is estimated that 3,400 Quebec households will benefit from this measure.

As well, the maximum income to qualify has been raised to $23,774 for households with two or more people. This increase translates into $1.9 million to the $70 million allocated to this program annually. Funding for the Shelter Allowance Program is shared equally between the Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and the Government of Quebec, through the SHQ.

Each year, some 104,000 low-income households who spend too much of their budget on housing can receive an allowance helping them to pay their rent. In 2012, an additional 3,400 households will have had access to this housing assistance. It should be recalled that, each year since 2011, the age of eligibility for this program has been lowered by one year, and this will continue until the age of eligibility reaches 50 years in 2015.

To benefit from the program

Low-income households with at least one dependent child, as must singles aged 53 or older and couples with one spouse aged 53 or older who believe they are eligible for this program must contact Revenu Québec at 1 800-267-6299.

General information on the program is also available at http://www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca/english.html.

Shelter Allowance Program

Launched in 1997 by the SHQ and administered by Revenu Québec, the Shelter Allowance Program is intended for low-income households who are owners, renters or rooming house occupants. Financial assistance of up to $80 per month can be granted, depending on the household's size, income and housing costs.

Société d'habitation du Québec

The SHQ's mission is to facilitate citizens' access to appropriate housing conditions. Each year, thanks to its programs and many partners, the SHQ helps more than 230,000 Quebec households. For more information on this agency's programs and services, visit www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca/english.html.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest more than $2 billion in housing this year. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will be spent in support of almost 605,000 households living in social housing. In Quebec, this represents some 129,550 households.

To find out more about how CMHC is working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca.