Montreal Indigenous-led day shelter continues to struggle in securing ‘basic operation’ funding despite OCPM report

Résilience Montréal, an Indigenous-led organization that supports Montreal’s homeless community, is asking all three levels of government to pull a seat up at the table and increase their commitment of support – as the non-profit cites concerns in securing core operational funding with access to very limited resources.  

In a letter sent to key government figures, obtained by CityNews via email, Résilience Montréal is requesting bi-weekly meetings focused on consultation, resources, and future planning.

“When you’re continually running right to zero in the bank, you’re always looking at the possibility of having to close for a time to fix the problem,” said Résilience Montréal executive director David Chapman.

The goal is to support the implementation of recommendations made by the Office de Consultation Publique de Montréal (OCPM) in its July report on homelessness and social cohabitation, which included 22 recommendations for the City of Montreal.

“Two years ago, we were fortunate to participate in meetings with all our government partners, which resulted in additional funding for Résilience Montréal,” the letter reads. “We request the resumption of these important meetings in order to implement the report’s recommendations.”

READ: Stop dismantling encampments: OCPM report on homelessness and social cohabitation

Résilience Montréal also says it’s operating with limited resources and is “concerned about securing the funding necessary for our basic operations.” It adds its previous requests for operational funding have been ignored. The organization was scheduled to move into a new building this October, but construction delays mean the new move-in date will be closer to April 2026.

“There’s been the suggestion from government that this problem needs to be fixed and yet we keep coming back to it,” Chapman said.

Résilience reminds that within the report, the Government of Quebec and the City of Montreal is asked to significantly increase support for community organizations working with homelessness and that they must ease the terms and criteria of their funding programs.

“This is what we want to do is to talk about cohabitation, find solutions, work together,” said Na’kuset, Résilience’s founder and director of development and philanthropy.

Questioning reconciliation

Na’kuset, who is also the executive director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, referred to other “ignored” reports like the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

“How is it that in the country of reconciliation, Indigenous-led initiatives cannot find core funding?” Chapman questioned.

Chapman says those who would be impacted are the unhoused, as the organization offers emergency response, basic necessities, and serves 1,200 daily meals in the Atwater area.

“If you take away their access to basic needs, their access to a shower and food and someone who’s engaging you, an intervention worker about the next steps, then what happens is, people are left in more desperate circumstances. They’re not eating. They’re not as clean,” Chapman explained.

The letter was addressed to Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, Quebec Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafrenière, Minister of Indigenous Services of Canada Mandy Gull-Masty, and others.

In an email statement to CityNews, the City of Montreal said they increased financial support by $3 million in its 2025 budget for organizations that work with the homeless, bringing it to nearly $10 million — adding they have invested nearly $15 million in 2025 to combat homelessness. They explain that Résilience Montréal is receiving $1.02 million for its Quartier Solidaire project, which aims to improve cohabitation through:

• A dedicated telephone line;
• An expanded cleaning team;
• Evening awareness tours;
• Community meetings;
• Cultural activities promoting trust between residents, both housed and unhoused.

The city clarified that the projects will begin only on January 1, 2026, and end on December 31, 2028.

This comes weeks after the City announced an investment of nearly $22.5 million for 42 projects spanning across 39 community organizations aimed at alleviating the homeless crisis. The city added it’s earmarked $1.07 million to the Montreal Native Women’s Shelter for the Cabot Square mediators project, and $413,117 for L’Itinéraire Community Group’s Maison ronde program — both with the goal of improving cohabitation at Cabot Square.

‘Loosen the red tape’

Despite the financial supports, which include the design and implementation of a social cohabitation plan related to their future resource on Atwater Avenue, Chapman says this isn’t enough to operate sustainably.

“Loosen the red tape please because when they don’t, it essentially puts lives at risk,” he said.

“These are folks who are not going to be at the mayor’s office demanding their rights. They’re not going to be at their local CLSC demanding their rights. What’s going to happen? They’re just going to disappear into the alleyways, into the forested spots, into their little hidden spaces where they hide and they will endure their misery there,” he said.

Na’kuset adds that if this lack of communication wasn’t happening, it would be much easier to have the core funding so that they can focus on the people and begin developing an action plan.

“It needs to happen immediately, but we’re not just talking about money. We’re talking about an action plan. We need to sit down and decide how are we going to do this, where are we going to look, because sometimes the municipal government will have little pockets of money that we’re not aware of,” Na’kuset said.

“Having these conversations is really important.”

Neither Lafrenière’s office nor Carmant’s responded to CityNews’ requests for comment.

In an email statement to CityNews, a spokesperson for Minister Gull-Masty explained that homelessness disproportionately impacts Indigenous people in Canada and is an “issue that must be addressed promptly and appropriately.”

“Resilience Montreal is one of many important organizations that provides critical services for urban Indigenous community members. In the past, Resilience Montreal has received funding from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) through application-based processes, and like all other qualified organizations, Resilience Montreal is encouraged to apply for funding and support opportunities. ISC continues to look at ways that we can better serve vulnerable individuals alongside grass-roots organizations like Resilience Montreal,” the statement reads.

The spokesperson also confirmed that a representative from ISC will be in touch with the organization shortly to arrange a meeting.

“If you don’t look after the basic needs of some of the most marginalized people in our society, there are going to be dire consequences,” Chapman said.

“We could all just sort of ignore this problem. But the issue is, if yes, we close for a time, then yes, people will die.”