Our cause
Fighting
the housing crisis
& preventing homelessness
Our history
Who we are
Toit à moi (TÀM) aims to acquire condominiums (a first in Quebec), currently inaccessible to people on very low incomes or in shelters, and rent them out at affordable prices. The TÀM community contributes to the cost of the apartments.
Inspiration from an association
recognized in France
TÀM – Canada was inspired by an association that has been recognized in France for over 15 years. TÀM’s concept is to buy apartments and rent them out to the underprivileged. In France, over 70 apartments have been purchased thanks to the commitment of more than 2,000 donors and volunteers.
Toit à moi buys apartments through down payments and mortgages, financed by patrons (corporate and public donors) and sponsors (monthly donors to defray operating costs).
Development in Montreal
In 2018, Denis Castin, founder of Toit à moi – France, met in Montreal with various players interested in the concept. Homelessness expert Serge Lareault and businessman and philanthropist Martin Gauthier see the potential. These three founders combined their expertise to develop Toit à moi in Montreal. In January 2025, after incorporating and registering the charitable organization, TÀM – Canada is off to a flying start!
Our team
Martin Gauthier
President and Founding Member
President of the Gauthier Family Foundation, a Montreal businessman and philanthropist involved in several causes.
Alexandre Skaff
Treasurer
Investor at Plagesco Holding Inc, a portfolio holding interests in private companies, real estate investments, and publicly traded businesses.
Marie-Josée Rioux
Vice President
Manager at Fondaction CSN in partnerships and impact investment platforms, with 30 years of experience in the financial sector.
Serge Lareault
Secretary and Founding Member
30 years of national and international experience in homelessness.
Sonia Côté
Board Member
CEO of Le Chaînon, with 25 years of experience as a manager in the community sector and the public network.
Denis Castin
Board Member and Founding Member
Founder in 2009 and General Delegate of Toit à moi – France
Our team
Executive Management
Serge Lareault, Executive Director
Martin Gauthier
President of the Fondation famille Gauthier, Montreal businessman and philanthropist to many causes.
Serge Lareault
30 years of national and international touring experience.
Denis Castin
Founder and general manager of Toit à moi – France
Challenges
Housing crisis
Canada, Quebec and especially Montreal are facing a serious housing crisis. Tens of thousands of people are waiting for social or affordable housing, but current construction is not enough to meet this demand.
01
Insufficient social housing
Government funding is often insufficient, and construction takes several years. As a result, many people end up in emergency or transitional accommodation for long periods.
02
Population aging
The aging of the population is exacerbating the situation, as many senior citizens, dependent on public pensions, can no longer afford housing and find themselves on the streets.
03
Together for
housing for all
Mission
Create a community of people committed to housing acquisition and social support for vulnerable people.
Vision
Together, we can support people in our community and prevent homelessness.
Values
Toit à moi's core values are the importance of housing first, social ties between different communities, and regular individual commitment to housing those in need.
Our 1st partner
The Gauthier Family Foundation provides the start-up funds needed to establish the Toit à moi concept in Canada.
Institutional and community partners
Toit à moi – France
Toit à moi started up in 2007 in Nantes, France, and created the concept of buying homes with the help of the local population. The French association supports TÀM by sharing its expertise and values.
Discover TÀM – English
Gauthier Family Foundation
The Gauthier Family Foundation invests in helping the most vulnerable, in culture, education and the environment, and is at the heart of TÀM’s Montreal ideation. A $2 M start-up donation was an essential condition for the launch.
BNP Inspire
From the very beginning of TÀM, BNP Inspire was the essential consultant in incorporating the NPO and registering the charity. Today, it supports TÀM’s philanthropic development.
Discover BNP
Nucleus Strategy
As a partner in branding and Internet services, Nucleus provides TÀM with ongoing support in reaching the Montreal public and people with a heart who wish to support the cause of the homeless.
Discover NS
Le Chaînon – Maison du Père – Mission bon accueil
Ces trois organismes communautaires, parmi les plus reconnus au Québec, ont accepté d’être les premiers partenaires de placement des personnes dans les logements de TÀM.
Découvrez Le C, MdP et MBA
Royal Lepage, Renée Larivière
Renée Larivière, a real estate broker who has been socially involved with the homeless for nearly 30 years, is responsible for finding and acquiring housing for TÀM.
Gestias
Since 1996, Gestias has been the largest provider of management support services to NPOs in Quebec. Gestias enables TÀM to concentrate on its priority activities while generating recurring savings.
Discover Gestias
Les Courtiers Solidaires
Faire de chaque transaction, une bonne action! Ce sont des courtiers immobiliers engagés envers la communauté. Chaque transaction soutient un organisme local dont Toit à moi.
Découvrez Les Courtiers Solidaires
TÀM is a member of committed networks
Montreal Non-Profit Housing Federation (FOHM)
A federation of around 260 non-market housing non-profits with over 20,000 housing units and several partner members from the housing sector.
Learn more about FOHM
Alliance of Affordable Housing Corporations of Quebec (ACHAT)
A network of collective real estate enterprises (owners, non-profits, cooperatives, and semi-public corporations) for the development of non-market housing.
Learn more about ACHAT
Movement to End Homelessness in Montreal (MMFIM)
A movement bringing together actors from various sectors (community, business, and institutional) to collaborate and implement sustainable solutions to homelessness in Montreal.
Learn more about MMFIM
Network for Assistance to Single and Homeless People in Montreal (RAPSIM)
A regional network of around one hundred non-profits working with people experiencing homelessness in Montreal.
Learn more about RAPSIM
Quebec Homelessness Solidarity Network (RSIQ)
A national network of 18 regional homelessness coalitions and over 260 organizations in Quebec, focused on mobilization and raising awareness to defend the rights of people experiencing homelessness.
Learn more about RSIQ
East Montreal Chamber of Commerce (CEM)
A chamber of commerce bringing together businesses, non-profits, and various stakeholders in the East of Boulevard Saint-Laurent.
Learn more about CEM
Quebec Observatory on Inequalities (OQI)
An observatory that produces, mobilizes, and disseminates knowledge on various forms of inequality in Quebec to inform decision-making and raise public awareness about the state of inequalities, their causes and consequences, and possible solutions.
Learn more about OQI
