‘Pay rent and be quiet’: Residents at downtown Montreal seniors’ home allege rights violations
Posted October 8, 2025 10:49 am.
Last Updated October 8, 2025 5:59 pm.
Seniors living in a city-run residence near Cabot Square say they are being neglected by the building’s management and exposed to unsafe, undignified conditions — and are now calling on government officials to take urgent action.
At a press conference Wednesday, residents of Manoir Charles Dutaud, on Tupper Street in downtown Montreal, outlined concerns over safety, affordability, building maintenance, and what they described as systemic indifference from their landlord, the Office municipal d’habitation de Montréal (OMHM).
Many tenants — including people with disabilities, immigrants and racialized residents — say they have been ignored despite repeated complaints of ongoing drug activity in and around the building, broken security cameras, and malfunctioning emergency systems. Some also allege financial exploitation through a mandatory food card system that charges $100 per month for access to frozen meals and overpriced grocery items.
‘Indifference and negligence’ amount to maltreatment, says advocacy group
Fo Niemi, executive director of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR), says the situation may meet the legal definition of institutional maltreatment under Quebec law and called for formal investigations by several oversight bodies.
“This is where we believe it fits the legal definition of institutional maltreatment,” Niemi said, citing concerns about racial equity, financial transparency and public safety. “Many seniors here are from diverse backgrounds… but without the security and dignity people have a right to.”
He added that many tenants are unaware of how much unused money remains on their food cards over time and questioned the quality of the food, which he said was mostly frozen and lacking nutritional value.
CRARR is urging action from the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission, the provincial minister of health, the Montreal police chief, and the city ombudsman. The group is also calling for the City of Montreal to hold OMHM management accountable.
Residents share personal experiences of fear, neglect
Several residents at Manoir Charles Dutaud painted a distressing picture of life inside the downtown residence, describing a daily reality shaped by fear, neglect, and a sense of abandonment.
John, a long-time resident, said tenants are forced to pay $100 per month for a mandatory food card, which he described as both restrictive and exploitative. “We have no choice,” he said. “It’s frozen junk, most of them. And anything else is overpriced.” He recalled being charged $16 for a pack of 12 yogurts — more than double the cost at a regular grocery store.
Christian Michel, who moved into the building in January, said his tenant insurance premiums rose immediately — a result, he was told, of the area’s high crime rate. “I don’t feel secure,” he said. “There are homeless people walking in and out like they own the place. I’ve found people sleeping outside my apartment on the floor.” Michel also criticized the building’s complaint process, calling it a “nonsense system” where concerns are reported directly to the very people they’re about. “We’re drifting on a sea of incompetence,” he said.
Ana DeVita said she lives in constant panic. “It’s very insecure.”
“It’s very insecure. Very insecure. I called the media myself because I had no help from the director. I mean, I’ve paid taxes for 41 years to end up like this. We can’t go out. We have to live in constant panic every night. It’s panic. We don’t sleep. We call the police, and they don’t come. They show up after four or five hours. When I ask them why they didn’t come sooner, they tell me, ‘We’re fed up of coming.’ They say, ‘We’ve told the director what to do,’ but nothing gets done. I talk to the director, and he says there’s nothing he can do about it. They’ve taken over our building to the point that I don’t do my laundry here anymore. I have to go outside because they’ve even taken over the laundry room. They squat at night and sleep there. There are cameras all over the building, but for some reason, they don’t work.”
Despite the presence of surveillance cameras, DeVita said none of them work. “He says it’s too much money to fix them. So if something happens to me, nobody’s going to see anything,” she said. “We’re not just neglected — we feel invisible. We’re here to pay rent and be quiet. That’s it.”
DeVita said she’s been pleading for help for months. “ I feel like we don’t exist here. Neglected is not the world. The world is not even neglected. It’s like we don’t exist. We’re just here to pay rent, fill an apartment and be quiet. Don’t say anything. It’s three months that I’m doing everything I can to somebody who listens to us. If somebody runs after me, I can’t run anywhere. And none of the employees done nothing.”
SPVM says no major safety concerns have been identified
In response to residents’ safety concerns, the Montreal police service (SPVM) shared the following statement with CityNews:
“SPVM’s Neighbourhood Station 12 maintains a strong and ongoing collaboration with the administration of Manoir Dutaud. Our teams, including Commander Marie-Ève Lamarche, foot patrol officers, and the socio-community officer, are regularly present in the area and remain attentive to the concerns raised by residents.
Approximately six months ago, a joint initiative was carried out in partnership with the OMHM, which included a meeting with residents and a door-to-door outreach within the building. This effort aimed to strengthen dialogue, better understand local issues, and ensure a reassuring police presence. Additional meetings between police officers and residents may also be considered, depending on the needs expressed.
To date, police interventions at the location have not identified any major safety concerns. While some incivilities have been observed, there is no evidence to suggest a situation involving significant violence or criminal activity.
Police presence in the area is consistent and responsive. Particular attention is given to the surroundings of Square-Cabot Park, where increased visibility of patrol officers helps maintain peace and address community needs.
Furthermore, the area benefits from the proactive approach of the Sentinelle Project, implemented by the SPVM. This initiative aims to enhance officers’ knowledge of the territory and maintain continuous engagement with key community stakeholders, residents, business owners, community organizations, and local institutions. Sentinelle teams monitor local issues (incivilities, disorder, nuisances, feelings of insecurity) and intervene in a targeted manner to improve quality of life in the neighbourhoods.
Lastly, it is important to note that all 911 calls are handled according to a strict prioritization protocol:
- High priority: when there is an immediate threat to life or physical integrity.
- Lower priority: when the incident has ended, the suspect has left the scene, or there is no immediate danger.
Response times may vary depending on the nature of the call, but every report is taken seriously and handled with professionalism.”
OMHM responds
In a written statement to CityNews, the OMHM said it shares tenants’ concerns and has already completed several improvements at the building.
Recent measures include installing an exterior garage door, modernizing the access control system, trimming trees to improve night-time visibility, and hiring an evening security guard. More changes are planned, it says, including upgrades to the surveillance system and emergency exits.
However, 24-hour security is not part of those plans. The OMHM said it continues to raise awareness among residents about not letting unknown visitors inside, and is working with tenants to establish an association to improve communication.
“We understand that tenants wish to see faster improvements, and we share that goal,” the agency said. “We continue to act within the legal limits of our role as a social landlord, always in the best interest of our residents.”
CityNews also reached out to Manoir Charles Dutaud but did not immediately hear back.
