Ricochet shelter on West Island officially purchases building, announces plan to create 60 affordable units
Posted July 20, 2026 3:43 pm.
Last Updated July 20, 2026 3:45 pm.
The Ricochet shelter on Montreal’s West Island has acquired its building on Gouin Boulevard West, in Pierrefonds, the organization announced in a press release.
Calling it a victory and a milestone, Ricochet says owning the building puts an end to “years of uncertainty for vulnerable people.”
“Becoming owners isn’t just about acquiring a building; it’s about ensuring our permanent presence where the needs are most urgent,” said Tania Charron, Ricochet’s executive director. “We will never again be at the mercy of eviction or forced relocation, which further destabilizes the people we support.
“This building finally gives us the stability we need to deliver our services and offer a real path to social reintegration.”
The homeless shelter was forced to leave a previous location — where it had been for three-and-a-half years — when its lease expired in May 2024. The property was given back to the regional health board that owned the building. About 50 clients were forced to leave.
Ricochet reopened its doors at a new location about six weeks later.
This time, the shelter says 80 people “could have ended up on the streets” if it weren’t for the building acquisition.
Purchasing the building also comes with plans for the future, Ricochet explains.
The organization is planning to soon renovate the currently unoccupied second floor, creating space for 60 new affordable units. The number of emergency beds will be reduced from 80 to 48.
“With the creation of these 60 affordable housing units, we are reversing the cycle of perpetual crisis,” said Charron. “We are finally offering a structural solution to the housing crisis. We are proving that with political and community determination, it is possible to integrate a comprehensive approach — including affordable housing — into the heart of our neighborhoods in a dignified and harmonious way.”
