Committed to supporting community organizations that play a key role in the fight against homelessness, the City of Montreal is proposing an investment of nearly $22.5 million for projects that will have a direct positive impact on the most vulnerable.
To this end, on August 20, the City of Montreal's executive committee will review the allocation of $21.3 million over a three-year period to 39 community organizations for the implementation of 42 projects. The actions taken are aimed at creating more inclusive, harmonious, and safe living environments for all. These funds come from the City of Montreal's Homelessness and Inclusive Living Environments program, whose second call for proposals closed on June 19.
Strengthening transportation for homeless people
Tomorrow, the executive committee will evaluate the allocation of nearly $700,000 to provide shuttles for vulnerable people in 2026. The goal is to strengthen adapted transportation to facilitate access to essential resources, particularly in terms of housing and support. The organizations involved are:
- Projets Autochtones du Québec, which will maintain a community shuttle service for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis members in precarious situations;
- Mission Old Brewery, which will set up a shuttle service for homeless people to access emergency resources;
- L'Amour en Action, which will provide safe transportation in the North Island to facilitate access to emergency shelter and related services.
The executive committee will also consider granting $450,000 to the Movement to End Homelessness in Montreal and the Montreal Network for the Homeless and Lonely to help them continue to exercise their expertise and collaborate with municipal services in implementing concrete solutions. This demonstrates the City's commitment to working with its partners to overcome the challenges observed in the field.
Modular housing with support services to be delivered soon at the racetrack
In addition, the City of Montreal is currently finalizing the installation of modular housing with support services on the site of the former racetrack in the Côte-des-Neiges--Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough.
To this end, the City has announced that it has entered into occupancy agreements with the Old Brewery Mission and RAP Jeunesse for the former racetrack site and 100 Louvain Street West in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough, respectively. These organizations will be responsible for managing these housing units and deploying specialized psychosocial workers who will provide support to residents.
Lucien-Saulnier building once again available as a warming center
The City will once again make the Lucien-Saulnier municipal building available to the health and social services network to operate as a warming center next winter.
Montreal recently made additional improvements to the building to enhance service delivery. The City is actively working with the health and social services network to ensure that an organization can operate this shelter and open it when the cold weather arrives.
Quotes
" Homelessness has intensified throughout Quebec and calls for concrete solutions. In Montreal, we are fully mobilized: we support community organizations that provide essential services. The actions we fund will help to better support vulnerable people, strengthen efforts to promote cohabitation in our neighborhoods, and support front-line workers. But we must go further: all levels of government must mobilize to address the root causes of this humanitarian crisis. The City is proactive, it has never done so much, and it will not stop. We must lend a hand to the most vulnerable, and to do so, we must remain mobilized and support the work of front-line workers," explained Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.
"To address the social challenge of homelessness, we must encourage the deployment of creative and bold solutions. We are committed to speaking on behalf of community organizations and the people of Montreal to ensure that the necessary assistance is provided. We are fully committed to working closely with our partners, but it is essential that other levels of government also lend a hand. We will continue to move forward and seek solutions. We cannot afford to remain inactive," said Pierre Lessard-Blais, the City of Montreal's executive committee member responsible for homelessness.
SOURCE City of Montreal - Office of the Mayor and Executive Committee
