‘Largest housing building’ to combat homelessness in Montreal

By News Staff & Stéphane Blais, The Canadian Press

Several elected officials took part in the inauguration of what will become the “largest housing building dedicated to the fight against homelessness in Quebec,” on Monday morning – in downtown Montreal.

The “Le Christin” building, located between Sainte-Catherine and René-Lévesque Blvd. – at 330 Christin street, will give nearly a 100 people in vulnerable situations access not only to housing, but also to on-site psychosocial support, said the Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant.

More than 80 per cent of tenants in the 114 units will benefit from rent supplements – which means they’ll need to use 25 per cent of their income for housing.

Owned by the Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal (SHDM), it will be managed by Accueil Bonneau, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping homeless people “achieve residential stability.”

With a construction budget of $23.5 million, the project has received financial contributions from the federal government, the Quebec government and the City of Montreal.

Inauguration of Le Christin building in downtown Montreal
Inauguration of Le Christin building in downtown Montreal. Feb. 5, 2024. (CREDIT: Martin Daigle, CityNews Image)
Inauguration of Le Christin building in downtown Montreal
Inauguration of Le Christin building in downtown Montreal. Feb. 5, 2024. (CREDIT: Martin Daigle, CityNews Image)

Helping people avoid being on the streets

Monique Charrette, 67, has been a tenant at Le Christin since December 15.

She told La Presse Canadienne that she was “kicked out” of the apartment where she had lived for 15 years “because of renovation-evictions.”

She ended up in various short-term shelters for people in difficulty, before being accepted as a tenant in the new building in the Latin Quarter.

“It’s a total relief,” recounted the Charrette, explaining that she used to get “a bit depressed” when she had to sleep in emergency shelters.

“It’s like if you weighed 300 pounds, now you weigh 10, so much so that the pressure goes away,” pictured the tenant to explain the relief of having the security of long-term housing.

“I couldn’t see myself, at 67, starting to sleep on the street,” added Charette.

Inauguration of Le Christin building in downtown Montreal
Inauguration of Le Christin building in downtown Montreal. Feb. 5, 2024. (CREDIT: Martin Daigle, CityNews Image)
Inauguration of Le Christin building in downtown Montreal
Inauguration of Le Christin building in downtown Montreal. Feb. 5, 2024. (CREDIT: Martin Daigle, CityNews Image)

An innovative model of social diversity

The project’s innovative model will allow for a unique social mix, as different tenant profiles will cohabit in the building, including men and women, couples, students, refugees, seniors, the Indigenous community, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. ‘In addition, 20 per cent of the units are reserved for residents who do not require special support, who will cohabit with people in vulnerable situations, thus offering a diversified and unique living environment,” explained a press release.

L’Accueil Bonneau will also carry out a research project to measure the impact of this model on the social reaffiliation of people with lived experience of homelessness. This study will be conducted by researcher Eric Latimer, PhD, full professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University.

Personalized accompaniment and support

Among the services offered by L’Accueil Bonneau, people living at Christin can count on psychosocial support and a range of activities.

“The Christin project is an exemplary response to the vulnerability crisis and should be a model to be replicated. To effectively support vulnerable people, we must first offer them a roof over their heads and, above all, appropriate support. The City of Montreal is proud to have invested more than $5 million in this project, and we’ll continue to be there to accelerate projects like this one. These housing units are a concrete response to the complex situations generated by the crisis of vulnerability, and all partners must remain mobilized to ensure that we keep up the momentum,” add Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal.

“In the middle of winter, the official opening of Christin is a sign of hope and future for its 120 new residents. The project aims to improve social cohesion, well-being and the population’s sense of belonging to their living environment. The approach that will be deployed will take into account the importance of weaving a social net for the benefit of people in vulnerable and precarious situations by offering residential stability that will help break the cycle of homelessness,” said Fiona Crossling, Director General of Accueil Bonneau.

Inauguration of Le Christin building in downtown Montreal
Inauguration of Le Christin building in downtown Montreal. Feb. 5, 2024. (CREDIT: Martin Daigle, CityNews Image)
Inauguration of Le Christin building in downtown Montreal
Inauguration of Le Christin building in downtown Montreal. Feb. 5, 2024. (CREDIT: Martin Daigle, CityNews Image)

“I’m very pleased to see Le Christin unfold, a great project that represents a real step forward in the support provided to people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Le Christin will enable nearly a hundred people in vulnerable situations not only to have access to housing, but also to benefit from on-site psychosocial support. Le Christin is proof that by working together, we can bring to fruition ambitious ideas that make a real difference to people’s lives,” said Carmant.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today