Applicants
Qualification
Eligibility Criteria for NHB Tenancy:
- Must be a registered applicant.
- Able to meet basic personal and household needs independently, or with assistance from a cohabitant or external support.
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Beneficiaries of the JBNQA.
- Non-JBNQA beneficiaries must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents who have lived in the Northern Village where they are applying for at least 12 consecutive months.
Submit Application
Complete the Social Housing Application Form. You can obtain the form by downloading it from this link or by visiting your local NHB office. Once completed, sign the form, and send it along with the required documents attached:
- Two forms of identification for both the applicant and co-applicant (e.g., beneficiary card, social insurance number, health insurance card, driver’s license).
- The most recent Revenu Québec notice of assessment for the applicant and co-applicant.
- Any letters of support you have for your application (for example from a medical professional, a social worker, etc.).
Eligibility List
Applicants will be placed on the housing waitlist and given a confirmation number and ranking. The eligibility list is updated once a month. However, as NHB accepts applications continuously, your position on the waiting list may shift up or down based on new applications received. When a unit becomes available, it is assigned by the local housing committee based on the current rankings at that time. After each Housing committee meeting, the list is updated, allowing you to see your progress on the list.
You can consult the eligibility list to find out your rank at your local housing office or by using the search page engine. All you need is your number, which can be found on your eligibility letter.
Please note that you must inform us of any changes to your household’s situation, such as:
- new address or telephone number;
- change in the household’s composition (e.g.: birth, death, departure or arrival of a new member);
- changes to your income.
To update your application, please contact your local Housing Manager.
Local Housing Committee
The Local Housing Committee is tasked with reviewing applications and providing recommendations to NHB’s Client Services regarding the selection of future tenants and the relocation of current ones. Additionally, the committee offers suggestions on enhancing the social housing conditions within the community. Comprising five members, the committee convenes nearly every month, with a minimum of eight meetings per year, and assembles additionally for special circumstances.
Occupancy Standards for Housing
Housing units are allocated according to specific rules based on their sub-category:
- Single or couple occupancy: a studio or the first bedroom is for a single individual or a couple.
- Disability considerations: an additional bedroom is provided for a disabled person if their condition or necessary accommodations prevent sharing a bedroom.
- Household members: an extra bedroom is assigned for each additional household member. Two children under the age of 7 are expected to share a bedroom.
- Same sex sharing: two individuals of the same sex aged 7 or older may share a bedroom.
- Older adolescents and couples: persons aged 16 or older, and their spouses, are allocated an additional bedroom.
- Shared custody: a bedroom is added if a child in shared custody resides in the household at least 40% of the time.
- Court placement: an additional bedroom is provided if a child under a court placement order resides in the household for more than one year.
- Emergency foster home: if certified as an emergency foster home by social services, the household receives an extra bedroom. Certification must be confirmed annually by July 1st to NHB. Failure to provide certification or loss of certification results in relocation under article 1990 of the Civil Code of Québec.
Note: Only one additional bedroom is permitted under rules Court Placement and Emergency Foster Home. - Relocation rights: under article 1990 of the Civil Code of Québec, the NHB can relocate tenants to a more suitable category of dwelling with three months’ notice. Tenants can appeal this decision in court within one month of receiving the notice.
Housing allocation
When a unit is assigned to an applicant, the housing manager will assist in completing the lease and related forms. Once the unit is prepared, the local housing manager will contact the tenant to arrange a visit, during which the keys will be handed over.
Ranking
Ranking is based on criteria and a scoring system established by the By-law respecting the allocation of dwellings in low rental housing in Nunavik. It is enforced by NHB Board of directors and the Société d’habitation du Québec.
These criteria include household income, number of dependents and overcrowding. Several other criteria are considered to determine a tenant’s eligibility and their priority on the waiting list.
You can consult the eligibility list to find out your rank at your local housing office or by using the search page engine. All you need is your number, which can be found on your eligibility letter.