New mixed facility in Lachine will cater to Montreal homeless couples

A new affordable re-housing facility geared towards couples who’ve experienced homelessness has opened its doors in Lachine.

In response to the housing crisis, the Old Brewery Mission unveiled the Tenaquip Place, which will be available to couples who would otherwise be separated if they remained unhoused.

“Many of them will not come into a residential solution without each other,” explained James Hughes, the president and CEO of Old Brewery Mission. “So now we can say, yeah, you can come in together. And as I say, that’s unique. And I say, very, very proud to be able to offer that opportunity.”

The new facility includes 13 studio apartments for singles and five three-and-a-half rooms for couples. Each apartment is furnished with a kitchen, private bathroom, and individual air conditioning.

“Five of the 18 units here are going to be for couples,” said Hughes. “And these are people who really lean on each other. These are real duos. These are real couples. And we’re going to be absolutely delighted to say yes to them for the first time.”

CityNews got a tour of the facility with new resident Michel Dion.

“It’s really nice,” said Dion, who hadn’t seen the rooms yet. “I’m not going to cry, but inside, you know, it’s, yeah, it’s really beautiful.”

Dion previously lived on the street after saying he “lost everything,” including pictures of his mother and father, when he lost his apartment.

“I would say like 15 years ago, I thought I would not have to move anymore, but it was not the case,” said Dion. “And now I hope it’s the last place because I’m really, I want to have peace and quiet life.

“Everything is there. You know, they think about everything. I really appreciate the bed. Yeah, the bed, I’m really amazed. But when all this day is going to be over, like tonight and tomorrow, I’m like, oh my God, you know, it’s like… I’m really happy.”

The facility took two years to build and was made possible by a $4.5M donation from the Tenaquip Foundation.

“I am incredibly proud that the first thing we have built for the eco-district of Lachine East is social housing,” said Lachine borough mayor Maja Vodanović.

“Nobody wants people on the street. And we have to come together. And this is a perfect example of all levels of government coming together to do something. And we just have to keep doing it.”

‘New phase of my life’

It’s going to mean a new life chapter for Place Tenaquip resident Craig Kowal, who fell on hard times around 2019.

“I had some pretty rough years,” said Kowal, originally from Pointe-Saint-Charles. “Drug use and not having a permanent place to live. So I was kind of couch surfing for a while.”

After completing therapy in 2023, Kowal says he’s now been clean for two years.

“It feels great,” he said. “But one of the challenges is having a stable place to live. So personally, I’m really thankful for Old Brewery Mission. I don’t know the area of Lachine too well, but just looking around, it seems like a nice scenic place. There’s restaurants nearby, buses. I’m happy to be here.

“I’m excited for a new phase of my life. I have two daughters that live with their mom. So I’ll have some extra money to be able to take them out.”

Residents will have a lease through a rent supplement program, with additional housing and mental-health services available to help them achieve residential stability.

“They only pay 25 per cent of their income,” Hughes said. “So if they’re on welfare and they receive $800 a month, their rent will be 25 per cent of the $800. So that’s $200.”