Government grants are available to help adapt your home. Whether you have reduced mobility or a disability, grants are offered to allow you to adapt your house, enabling you to maintain your independence while remaining in your home.
The Government has established the Home Adaptation Program (HAP) for this purpose.
Here is some useful information:
Who is eligible for the HAP and its grants?
Any person with a disability or reduced mobility who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (whether a tenant, owner-occupant, or boarder) whose daily activities are limited by their condition may be eligible for the program. However, they must provide an occupational therapist’s report certifying that their needs are persistent and require home adaptation. Individuals receiving grants for home adaptation from the SAAQ and CSST are not eligible for the HAP.
Which buildings are eligible for the HAP?
Any building serving as a residence for a person eligible for the Home Adaptation Program (HAP): single-family home, rental apartment building, rooming house, or mobile home. Seniors’ residences certified by the Ministry of Health and Social Services, as well as intermediate resources housing nine people or fewer, are also eligible for the program.
However, it is important to note that tenants must receive their landlord’s approval.
How much financial assistance can the HAP provide?
The grant can amount to up to $16,000 per eligible person. In certain specific cases, the SHQ could allocate an additional amount of up to $7,000. If specialized equipment is needed, the SHQ could provide up to an additional $10,000. All amounts are granted according to specific criteria determined by the SHQ.
What steps must be followed to access the Home Adaptation Program?
- First, you will need to meet with an occupational therapist who will compile a file.
- You will need to register for the HAP program via your CHSLD or via the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ). Request the program registration form.
- Once the form is completed, the applicant must send it to the SHQ, which will forward it to the healthcare institution of the involved occupational therapist and to the municipality or RCM where the applicant resides.
- Following this, an agent or inspector from the RCM or municipality will compile a file, establish the list of work to be carried out according to the occupational therapist’s report, and determine the amount allocated for the work.
- At this point, you might need bidders to carry out your work. Do not hesitate to use our services; our team of professionals will assist you with these steps.
- The owner must then wait for the certificate of eligibility before undertaking the work. This certificate constitutes acceptance of the application.
- Upon receipt of the certificate of eligibility, the owner can then have the work carried out. This work must be done by a contractor who holds the appropriate license from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec.
- Financial assistance will be paid in full upon completion of the work, once the municipality or RCM has verified that the work has indeed been carried out and complies with established standards.
There is generally a delay of about 18 to 24 months before the work is completed. However, for those wishing to save time, it is possible to hire a private occupational therapist. This could significantly reduce delays. For more information on this topic, contact us at 514-751-2121.
In summary:
All individuals with reduced mobility who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, and whose daily activities are compromised by their condition, may be eligible for the PAD if they provide an occupational therapist’s assessment confirming that their disability is significant and persistent and that the resulting limitations necessitate home adaptation or modification. This individual must not be receiving home adaptation grants from the SAAQ and/or CSST.
The work must be carried out by a contractor holding the appropriate license from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec. En Mouvement is qualified by its expertise and its possession of both a general contractor’s license and a specialized contractor’s license for lifts for persons with disabilities.
The process can take up to “24 months to” be completed. However, there is a way to speed up the process by hiring a private occupational therapist.
Eligible work must contribute to making the person independent at home, at least in the priority rooms of the house.
Who to contact for more information
For more information, contact us at 514-751-2121.
It is also possible to contact the person responsible for the home adaptation program in your municipality or RCM.
For more information, please contact SHQ’s Customer Relations Center at 1-800-463-4315.
