At capacity: Montreal day shelter for seniors turns people away, ‘1,000 spots missing’
Posted December 9, 2024 11:13 am.
Last Updated December 9, 2024 8:13 pm.
Out of the 10,000 people experiencing homelessness in Quebec, the provincial government claims to have helped get over 1,000 reintegrated into housing last year.
This information, first obtained by Radio-Canada and confirmed to CityNews by a government spokesperson, is said to be the first time such a figure has been put forward.
The office of the minister responsible for social services, Lionel Carmant, told Radio-Canada that last year, they managed to get more than 1,000 people off the street and intend to continue on this path.
According to data from the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the number of people experiencing homelessness in Quebec increased from 5,789 to more than 10,000 between 2018 and 2022.
The province pointed to a handful of programs that contributed to getting people off the streets such as the Rapid Entry into Housing program (ERL), the Rent Supplement Program, as well as initiatives from community organizations.
The city says 17,000 people are waiting for social housing in Montreal.
Pas De la Rue, a Montreal shelter trying to help the elderly within the homeless community, is having to turn people away as they’re over capacity.
“This is a very important resource because most places put you out early in the day,” said David Levine, a client from Pas De la Rue. “So in the winter, it becomes critical the time that it takes from, let’s say, nine in the morning, you’re outside, until three in the afternoon.
“I’m really happy to have this place. I’m grateful. And I hope, it continues for a long time.”
“When you see that the number of homeless people exceeds 10,000 since 2022, 1,000 is a small number,” added Luis-Carlos Cuasquer, the general manager of Pas De la Rue.
Pas De la Rue is an organization that supports people over 55 who are experiencing homelessness. They offer free meals and a place to socialize, as well as psycho-social support and access to computers.
Their capacity is 70, but they’ve been averaging 100 lately and are regularly reaching 120, according to their general manager.
“As of November 18, we took the difficult decision to limit the number of people who have access,” said Cuasquer. “As a result, new registrations are no longer being accepted, and we’ve had to say no to at least 40 so far. We’re talking about people who are referred to us by our partners, or people who show up at the door. We have to tell them ‘no, you don’t have access, because our maximum capacity has been reached.”
Cusasquer said that 1,000 spots are needed across the city, including overnight beds and day centres. He is petitioning the government for funds to open an overflow centre which would cost a little over a $100,000.
Anyone wishing to donate to Pas De La Rue can do so here. The organization is also looking for volunteers.
Montreal recently launched a pilot project to build modular housing and provide temporary accommodation for those waiting for social housing.
The city is currently working with the Office municipal d’habitation de Montréal (OMHM) to roll out the project by March 2025.
Last week, the homeless encampment on Notre-Dame Street East in Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve was being dismantled.
Encampment occupants initially received an eviction notice from Transport Quebec for Nov. 21. But the Mobile Legal Clinic (MLC) — lawyers representing the homeless — intervened and asked to delay the eviction until at least Dec. 1 when warming spaces open in Montreal.
Transport Quebec agreed to the new deadline.
In a statement to CityNews, Transport Quebec had said that the eviction is necessary for the safety of the space, the citizens of the sector and for the users of the land.
The CIUSS Centre-Sud also told CityNews that 2,102 emergency shelter spaces have been operational since Dec. 1, which represents 396 additional spaces compared to last year.
The spokesperson for Carmant’s office tells CityNews its goal for 2025 is to help as many homeless people as possible get off the street.
