Montreal housing trust will help those at risk of homelessness

A housing trust has been established in Montreal to support those who are having trouble staying housed because of financial difficulties.

It was announced Monday by Accueil Bonneau and the Fédération des OSBL d’habitation de Montréal.

The goal is to prevent homelessness by having the trust manage the beneficiaries’ money, with the highest priority being paying their rent.

The four-year pilot project is voluntary, and participants can opt out at any time.

Marie-Paule Théberge, who struggles with a gambling addiction, says she lost her home and hit rock bottom when she went gambling rather than being at her partner’s side as they lay dying at a palliative care facility.

For the past four months, Théberge participated in the trust program to pay her rent with Accueil Bonneau. Her welfare payments are deposited into the trust account each month, which then pays her rent.

“I’m able to set goals and my counsellor Luca reminds me about my objectives. He wants to bring you towards something more positive, but always leaves the choice up to me once the rent is paid. That’s important for me.

“Addiction takes everything from you, not just money, it takes absolutely everything from a person. And when you have someone accompanying you who understands and isn’t judging, it’s simply wonderful.”

To qualify for the program, participants must be at least 18, prove their identity, live on the island of Montreal, and be receiving or be eligible to receive a government benefit or other type of declared income.

“We want to make sure that we’re able to support people before they lose their apartment,” said Fiona Crossling, executive director at Accueil Bonneau. “Because when they lose it, we know that rents are up and they won’t be able to get back into the market.”

The in-person service is offered in collaboration with community housing organizations like Pas de la Rue, Accueil Bonneau and Habitat Charleroi. The project is funded by the CIUSSS du Centre Sud de l’Ile de Montreal.

The announcement came just one day after a 55-year-old unhoused man died at Place Simon-Valois in Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, possibly due to hypothermia, according to Montreal police.