Shortage of homes for foster children in Montreal

A Montreal youth centre is urgently seeking foster families as they say they’re facing a shortage of suitable homes for children.

Batshaw Youth and Family Centres is supposed to have 10 to 15 per cent of its beds available for children but as of right now, the centre has zero beds available, according to Marie-Pierre Ulysse, chief of the foster family transition towards the family at CIUSSS de l’Ouest –de-l’Île –de-Montréal.

“I’m putting more kids in homes that are already full of kids,” said Ulysse.

Despite the shortage of available beds, the need continues to grow.

“For example, yesterday, I finished work maybe at 7:30 p.m. with my co-worker because we were struggling, calling each foster home, we had eight kids coming into care,” said Ulysse.

“It’s been an amazing fulfilling experience but also very difficult at the same time,” said Bisma Ansari, a foster parent in Montreal.

Over the last five years, Ansari and her husband, fostered seven kids.

“I was driving home from work one day and we don’t have any kids and I heard on the radio that there was a great need in Montreal for foster families and I thought that would be an awesome way to become a family and become a mom,” said Ansari.

Ansari, who’s also a board member and co-president of the Batshaw Foundation, says there’s an even bigger shortage of homes for children from minority backgrounds.

“Given that we’re Muslim and we’re South Asian and my husband is Moroccan, we thought it would be a great place to welcome minority kids and families that need support into our home and create a home for minority children in need,” said Ansari.

“We have children from all of the communities,” said Ulysse.

“You know it’s kind of like everything in the world to have role models that you can relate to so the closer that you can relate to the family I think it’s really helpful for the child also for the biological family I think it’s a little bit of comfort,” said Ansari.

Ansari says that if fostering is not right for you, making a donation to the youth centre can also go a long way.

As for herself, she plans on fostering for as long as she can.

“If there’s openness and space in your home and in your life, at least start exploring,” said Ansari.