Verdun homeless shelter to close, one to open in Ahuntsic-Cartierville

A homeless shelter will sublet a building in Ahuntsic-Cartierville for four months, after another site closes in Verdun at the end of July.

They’ll be located at 11810 Bois-de-Boulogne Ave. near a daycare (Château de grand-mère), a CLSC and CHSLD.

“The acquisition of this building would be an opportunity to offer services to vulnerable people in the borough, and to accommodate up to 50 people experiencing homelessness. Social workers would provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week in a living environment,” said the City of Montreal on its website.

The project is the result of collaboration between the Société de développement social (SDS), the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal and the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, with the support of the City of Montreal.

The Verdun shelter opened its doors in December after an emergency shelter at the Guy-Favreau Complex in Montreal’s Chinatown was closed.

“This new [shelter] would meet the need to offer services to vulnerable people in the borough. In the current context of housing crisis and shortage of premises, the City of Montreal is working with a number of partners to find solutions and locations whose primary objective is to offer and perpetuate social and community services to people in vulnerable and precarious situations,” explained the City of Montreal on its website. “We are working with all our partners (City, SPVM, CIUSSS, community organizations) to ensure that the implementation of this new housing service proceeds smoothly and that there is harmonious cohabitation with the neighbourhood.”

They add that they are aware that the arrival of a housing service in the neighbourhood may raise questions within the community. “The borough and its partners are committed to listening to your concerns, maintaining sustained and transparent communication, and doing everything in their power to maintain quiet, social cohabitation, safety and cleanliness in the neighbourhood.”

The City of Montreal held an information session on Wednesday and residents were able to participate virtually.

They explain that Social cohabitation outreach workers will be deployed “to ensure harmonious cohabitation in the neighbourhood” and that “A Good Neighbour Committee” will be set up to facilitate discussions between residents, the shelter and the borough. “This committee will listen to your concerns, continue the dialogue and suggest avenues of reflection that will benefit everyone.”