FAQ
Immigration & Settling
What is the Administrative Housing Tribunal (TAL) ?
Created on October 1, 1980, the Régie du logement is now known as the Tribunal administratif du logement. This specialized administrative tribunal holds exclusive jurisdiction in matters of rental housing to hear all applications pertaining to leases. Its mission is outlined in the Act respecting the Administrative Housing Tribunal.
Source: Administrative Housing Tribunal.
What authority can I address to if I have problems with my landlord?
We first address the Housing Committee of his neighbourhood which offers personalized assistance to tenants who want to defend their rights and, if necessary, the Administrative Housing Tribunal (Tribunal Administratif du lodgement, TAL).
Does the government offer specific funding to asylum seekers to pay for their housing?
Until recently asylum seekers with few resources were only entitled to financial assistance as a last resort to pay for their accommodation. Since October 2022, asylum seekers who have one or more children or who are 50 years old or older are eligible for the Shelter Allowance Program (PAL). La Maisonnée can explain the eligibility requirements, help you fill out the forms and set up your file.
What is a social housing?
There is three types of social housing: Low-Income Housing (HLM), housing co-operative (COOP) and non-profit organizations. All types of social housing, except non-subsidised COOP, are not open to asylum seekers. You have to be a permanent resident or a Canadian citizen to qualify. Gross income can have an impact in some cases. La Maisonnée can help you fill out the forms and build a case.
Is there no charge for assistance in finding accommodation?
Accommodation assistance services are free.
What is the Shared Housing program?
As part of the shared housing program we pair a newcomer to Quebec and a local citizen who has a room to rent up to live in a shared apartment.
Do you have a housing stock that you can make available to me?
No, La Maisonnée does not offer accommodation. However, we offer support to help find accommodation according to your needs.
Could you offer me a place to live?
No, La Maisonnée does not offer accommodation. However, we offer support to help find accommodation according to your needs, but we do not have a building or accommodation available immediately. We also offer a shared housing program where we pair a newcomer to Quebec and a local citizen who has a room to rent up to live in a shared apartment. If you would like to benefit from one of these free services, you can get more informations here.
Do I have to make an appointment to access the services of La Maisonnée?
Yes, depending on the services offered, you must make an appointment with the social services worker concerned to be registered at La Maisonnée. The contact information for each Service Manager can be found in the service related pages here.
However, you are not required to have an appointment to participate in La Maisonnée’s free of charge activities and you can simply register here.
I’m an asylum seeker and I don’t know how to work here.
We suggest you to come and participate in one of our information sessions given directly at La Maisonnée to get all the information useful to your installation, the employment situation is one of the topics discussed during these workshops.
We also offer you access to the housing search assistance service.
Francization & Language courses
Do I have to learn French to integrate into Quebec?
Being the first language of the Quebec province, the French language is necessary for integration into Quebec society both socially and professionally. It is for these reasons that we invite you to discover our services allowing you to learn French, to improve yourself, or simply practice discussions in French with leisure activities specifically designed to discover the host country and the richness of the French language in Quebec.
Support for youth & families
I have filled out the booking form for the day camp. Do I have a seat?
Not necessarily. You will receive a confirmation email as soon as your spot is reserved. Booking confirmations will be sent starting in April!
What documents are required when registering for the day camp?
You will need to provide the most recent immigration paper for your child and of a responsible parent, as well as their health insurance card or private insurance information. Families who arrived in Canada before 2023 and have regularized status must also complete a financial assessment.
How to pay for the Day Camp ?
Once your booking is confirmed, you will have an in-person appointment to complete the required paperwork and proceed with payment in cash.
Why do I have to answer questions about my family or financial situation when I register at the day camp?
La Maisonnée Day Camp is accessible to newcomer families during their installation process (families who arrived in 2023-2024). For families arrived before 2023, we will use the criteria to prioritise booking to those most in need.
How you can help us !
Give the gift of warmth this holiday season! Join us to support the community organization La Maisonnée, dedicated to the integration and support of immigrants.
Read our article to find out how you can get involved and make a concrete difference in the lives of those who need our support.
Every gesture counts!
- How you can help:
- Volunteering: Share your skills and time for successful integration.
- Monetary Donations: Give the gift of a warm Christmas with just one click.
Together, let’s build a united and inclusive future.
Can I participate to the bank food?
It depends on your situation. The Food Bank is a service offered to people in need according to the admission criteria such as the assessment of your income and your immigration status. To find out if you can benefit from this free service, you can consult the additional information here.
Community life
How you can help us !
Give the gift of warmth this holiday season! Join us to support the community organization La Maisonnée, dedicated to the integration and support of immigrants.
Read our article to find out how you can get involved and make a concrete difference in the lives of those who need our support.
Every gesture counts!
- How you can help:
- Volunteering: Share your skills and time for successful integration.
- Monetary Donations: Give the gift of a warm Christmas with just one click.
Together, let’s build a united and inclusive future.
Do we have to pay for your services?
No, most of our activities and workshops are totally free! You can register directly on our site here.
The only paid activities are exceptions such as English lessons at $60 per session, or activities that take place outside Montreal and that require transportation, such as cultural meetings in the Quebec region for example. You can discover these activities here.
I have a hard time getting to know people from here. Can La Maisonnée help me meet people and build a social life in Quebec?
Yes, La Maisonnée offers many leisure activities that allow you to get to know immigrants as well as people born in Quebec! There are also volunteer experiences that make it possible to get involved in community actions and to meet people of all ages.
We invite you to discover the best services: Shared Housing, Volunteering, Cultural Encounters, Intercultural Recreation, French Conversation Workshops, Intercultural Duo, Youth and Family Support Services, and Community Life.
Employment & Educational assistance
How you can help us !
Give the gift of warmth this holiday season! Join us to support the community organization La Maisonnée, dedicated to the integration and support of immigrants.
Read our article to find out how you can get involved and make a concrete difference in the lives of those who need our support.
Every gesture counts!
- How you can help:
- Volunteering: Share your skills and time for successful integration.
- Monetary Donations: Give the gift of a warm Christmas with just one click.
Together, let’s build a united and inclusive future.
Once registered, how will take place my participation in the employment service with La Maisonnée and for how long?
The participation lasts six (06) months and consists of individual and group activities, workshops whose theme would be around job search, speed jobbing, job interview simulation, company visits, information sessions with OIQ, workshops on construction trades and others. The workshops are either face-to-face or remote.
If you are placed in employment during these six (06) months, the agreement with Emploi-Québec stipulates the end of your participation.
Can I benefit from employment services having a closed work permit?
Perhaps, to find out, we strongly advise you to contact your Quebec employment advisor in your local Service Québec Office (BSQ).
Can I benefit from employment services as an international student?
Yes, but only for a support service in which we will review your resume, give you advice and invite you to participate in ours job search workshops. Once you obtain your post-graduation work permit, you will be eligible for comprehensive employability services.
Can I benefit from employment services as an asylum seeker?
Yes, but only for a support service in which we will review your resume, give you advice and invite you to participate in ours job search workshops. Once the decision notice is obtained, you will be eligible for comprehensive employability services.
Are there special conditions to benefit from La Maisonnée’s employability services?
Yes. These are eligibility conditions related to the person’s status in Quebec, the number of years of presence in Quebec, the person’s place of residence in Quebec and other criteria than the employment-placement counsellor checks before opening the participation file and registering the person.
I have just received my permanent residence confirmation and I plan to come to Quebec within two (02) months, can I access employability services now?
Yes. You can contact an employment-placement counsellor now by email and once you arrive in Montreal, Quebec, you will have an appointment with her / him as a registration is required.
How to benefit from La Maisonnée’s services for my job search?
You just have to contact La Maisonnée to make an appointment and meet an employment-placement counsellor. A registration is required on a Emploi-Québec platform and this service is free.
I have not yet done the comparative evaluation of studies carried out outside Quebec, could I still work in Quebec?
Yes, because the condition to work in Quebec is to have a work permit. The comparative evaluation it is not mandatory to work, but it is very useful and sometimes requested by some employers, including institutions and the public service.
Will La Maisonnée be able to offer me a job in my field of study?
We are a job search assistance organization, once registered we accompany newcomers in their job search. We work with them to help them learn about the special characteristics of the Quebec labour market and to prepare them to enter and maintain the labour market. An agreement with Emploi-Québec allows us to apply a specialized service. Employment placement counsellors are dedicated to this mission.