Finances
Budget management, financial planning, and maintaining a security cushion.
Housing Cooperative · Ahuntsic, Montreal
A home, a voice, a community.
A neighbourhood resource for cooperative living.
Housing mix
78 units across three building types
The co-op’s layout reflects the diversity of its membership — from individuals and couples to families with children.
- Main Pavilion 40
- 6-Unit Buildings 30
- Row Houses 8
78 units
Get involved
Cooperative life
Living at Oasis means taking part. Each member contributes according to their means and talents — by sitting on a committee or joining the annual work days.
Member Selection
Welcoming and integrating new members according to cooperative values.
Education
Ongoing training on the cooperative model and community life.
Maintenance
Coordinating annual work bees and regular upkeep of common spaces.
Timeline
Over 43 years of cooperation
Oasis Sauvé has been part of Ahuntsic since the 1980s. Here is how it came together.
- Début des années 1980
A group of Ahuntsic residents mobilizes to create a housing cooperative on a former school site.
- ~1984
The City of Montreal grants the land through a 50-year emphyteutic lease, enabling the project to launch.
- 1983
The cooperative is founded (published in the Gazette officielle on 13 August 1983).
- ~1986
Construction of the complex begins under CMHC’s Non-Profit Housing Program (Section 95). The cooperative welcomes its first members.
- 2018
CMHC highlights the cooperative’s success as a model for affordable housing and participatory management.
How it works
Cooperative housing in practice
In a housing cooperative, there is no outside landlord. The co-op is owned and managed collectively by the people who live there. Members pay a monthly housing charge that covers the mortgage, maintenance, and operating costs — not profit. This keeps housing affordable over the long term.
Members participate in running the co-op through committees and annual work days (corvées). The work is shared so that everyone can contribute in a way that fits their abilities. This model has kept Oasis Sauvé financially stable for over 43 years.
Through CMHC subsidies, about twenty households — including seniors and people living with disabilities — receive additional support to remain in their homes. These rent-geared-to-income units are part of the co-op’s commitment to mixed-income community housing.
On site
Shared spaces and services
Outdoor spaces
- Green space with children’s play structure
- Picnic tables and outdoor relaxation areas
Getting around
- Close to public transit
Parking
- Member parking
Neighbourhood
- Peaceful Ahuntsic neighbourhood, near services and shops
Learn more
Housing cooperatives in Quebec
Interested in cooperative housing? These organizations and government resources offer information about how co-ops work, how to find one, and how to start one.
Quebec co-op resources
- FECHIMM — Fédération des coopératives d’habitation intermunicipale du Montréal métropolitain ↗
Regional federation supporting housing co-ops in the Montreal area. Technical support, training, and development resources.
- CQCH — Confédération québécoise des coopératives d’habitation ↗
Provincial body representing over 1,100 housing co-ops across Quebec. Advocacy, education, and sector development.
- Régie du logement — Tribunal administratif du logement ↗
Quebec’s rental board. Information on tenant and landlord rights, lease regulations, and dispute resolution.
Government and funding
- CMHC — Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation: Affordable Housing ↗
Federal housing agency. Programs for affordable housing development, renovation, and subsidies. Also publishes housing market data and research.
- Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ) ↗
Quebec’s housing agency. Administers social and affordable housing programs including AccèsLogis and the Quebec Rent Supplement Program.
- City of Montreal — Housing and Social Development ↗
Municipal housing services. Information on social housing, home adaptations, and the Right of First Refusal for community housing.
About cooperative housing
- CHF Canada — Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada ↗
National voice for housing co-ops. Policy advocacy, education programs, and a directory of member co-ops across Canada.
- Coop housing directory — CHF Canada ↗
Searchable directory of housing co-ops across Canada. Find co-ops with vacancies or learn about co-ops in your area.
- CMHC testimony: Oasis Sauvé cooperative (2018) ↗
The CMHC feature on this cooperative, with background on its founding, funding model, and resident experience.
Want to join us?
The waiting list refreshes each year from January 1 to March 31. Discover the criteria and sign up.