The Sud-Ouest deploys a dedicated squad for the homeless population

The Sud-Ouest Borough is continuing its efforts to support the most vulnerable by setting up a squad on its territory, available 7 days a week, until the end of 2021. This approach of psychosocial intervention, referral to housing reintegration services and food services on the field is in addition to a series of financial measures and assistance to organizations and the population initiated by the borough since the beginning of the health crisis.

"We are doing all we can to limit the impact of the current crisis on vulnerable populations. Important sums of money are being allocated to this effort. The creation of this squad and its funding demonstrate our commitment to improving the living conditions of homeless people while facilitating cohabitation with residents," said Benoit Dorais, Mayor of the Sud-Ouest Borough and Chair of the Executive Committee of the city of Montréal. He also points out that thanks to his administration's financial support of more than $2.5 million granted in 2020 to various non-profit organizations including Centraide, families and individuals in difficulty received valuable assistance during the pandemic.

Since its deployment, squad members, under the management of the organization Prevention Sud-Ouest, have been out on the streets in neighbourhoods most frequented by homeless people and intervening according to the situation. The squad provides various aspects of assistance by referring people to different services or by offering services and help on the spot,, i.e. food, lodging (emergency, shelter and other alternatives), transportation (shuttle to different services), safe injection (mobile injection unit), and psychosocial and medical assistance. In addition, the squad orients and supports vulnerable people before, during and after moving season.

The borough is accompanied by many partners in the implementation of this project, including community organizations in the Sud-Ouest, the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal and the Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal.