Montreal’s Hôtel-Dieu shelter expected to close

A Montreal shelter, which currently accommodates 186 homeless people will have to move, with no new location in sight.

Discussions regarding the closure of Hôtel-Dieu and the transition of the unhoused people who live there are currently underway, according to James Hughes, CEO and president of the Old Brewery Mission.

“There’s already less space available. So there’s going to be even less space. We don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Stefan Savoie, one of the shelter’s users whose been staying there for the last two days.

The building has 25 rooms on each floor with two beds and a private washroom in each room. It has six floors, one of which is entirely dedicated to women.

It is still unclear when the shelter will officially close.

“We would worry if there’s a big decrease in the capacity from the 186. That would be a concern for sure,” said Hughes.

“What is absolutely certain is that services will continue to be offered to these people whether at the Hôtel-Dieu site or somewhere else.”

Since July 2021, Old Brewery Mission and Welcome Hall Mission have been operating the former hospital as an emergency shelter. Set up during the pandemic, the building was temporary and never intended to be a permanent location.

Robert Beaudry, the city’s executive committee member responsible for homelessness says regardless of the transition, the number of units will not change.

“It’s mandatory in Montreal that we keep the same amount of emergency units in Montreal because the needs didn’t decrease right now,” said Beaudry.

Opposition spokesperson in the fight against homelessness Elisabeth Prass says she is worried about moving the shelter.

“Rather than presenting a concrete plan to increase resources for homelessness, the CAQ is giving up and leaving a refuge in the unknown regarding its future,” said Prass in a press release. “In addition, almost 200 people experiencing homelessness find themselves in uncertainty and insecurity due to the government’s lack of foresight. Where is the CAQ minister?” writes Prass in a press release.

The province says they don’t anticipate any decrease in the number of emergency beds available in the city.

The local health agency writing to CityNews in a statement that they are “in contact with the organizations operating the emergency accommodation sites. The transition of this shelter has been discussed with them for several months, to give the organizations time to prepare,” and that it’s too early to announce what the building will be used for and that they are currently evaluating some possibilities.

“I’ll wait and see what happens,” said Savoie.