Pas de la Rue day centre nearly doubles in capacity

A 2022 report by Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ) estimated 10,000 Quebecers were experiencing homelessness, with nearly half of those people living in Montreal.

Prior to the opening of this overflow room, Montreal-based community organization Pas de la Rue had to  turn away 85 people between November of 2024 and January of this year. The day centre on Rene Levesque was saturated—at its capacity of 70.

“[Finding yourself on the street] is a shock… You know, when you haven’t lived that kind of experience, you don’t know,” said Guy Ouimet, a former massage therapist who found himself without a home for the first time this January at the age of 67. “When [it happens to you], you say, ‘oh, geez, lots of people are in this type of situation.'”

Cloé Gauthier, assistant director of Pas de la rue, prefers to call the overflow room an “extension of the day centre,” that’s just a stone’s throw away at the former St-Brigide Church on Alexandre De Sève St.

“It wasn’t an easy decision, but we didn’t have the choice,” said Gautier. “It’s 85 people in the street, 85 people who couldn’t have access to a meal… couldn’t speak with a social worker.”

Now, with the addition of 60 spots, the total capacity between the two locations has been increased to 130. The extension is open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. They offer breakfast, snacks and places to rest—including five beds, two couches, chairs and tables.

They hired four more staff members upon opening the centre.

“When we got the approval to open this space, we were happy… thrilled to start a new thing, a new experience for our people and our team,” said Gautier.

The organization hosts activities like art classes, book club, bingo and movie screenings.

Ouimet calls his experience “a very dark time,” until he found resources to help him—and says that this place grounds him, and brings him peace.

“[The centre] gives you the space to reconnect with yourself, that’s what I would say about this place,” he said.

Ouimet hopes to find a permanent place to live and build his life back up on a stronger foundation.

They haven’t had to turn away anyone since it opened.