Ahuntsic residents express concerns about new homeless shelter near daycare
A new homeless shelter opening near a daycare in a residential area of Ahuntsic-Cartierville has residents concerned about their safety.
“I have four grandkids and now I'm afraid of bringing them to the park,” resident Joanne Hirtle said in an interview.
The building on Bois-de-Boulogne Avenue, which was a formerly a palliative care home, is set to accommodate up to 50 people, according to the City of Montreal.
The homeless shelter is set to open next month.
“[It’s] stressful. I can't explain,” Mohamed Lamouii said.
Rachel Rakhi is one of hundreds of residents opposed to the project. “Everybody says that we feel for those people, but this is not the right place,” she explained.
The building is also next to a residence for nuns and a CLSC.
“They have baggage. They have mental health issues. They have addiction problems. They have alcoholism,” Rakhi said.
The city was not available for an interview but in a statement emailed to CTV News it said, “the critical shortage of places for people experiencing homelessness calls for the opening of new resources.
“We need to distribute resources throughout the territory to ensure a better mix, but this must be done in the right way, taking into account the needs and concerns of the population."
But people who live in the area say there were no public consultations. The city held an information session on July 3 but residents said they feel officials did not take their concerns seriously.
"They're not listening to us. And you know what? They don't even care. They are completely out of touch of the reality of the neighbourhood,” Rakhi said.
Welcome Hall Mission CEO Sam Watts says that just because a building is empty it doesn't mean it's the best location for a shelter.
“These resources are necessary, and they're necessary in a variety of neighbourhoods," he said. "Was this particular resource well thought through? I doubt it."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6981221.1722263750!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
BREAKING Sport court dismisses Canada's appeal in women's soccer case
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed Canada's appeal of a six-point penalty against its Olympic women's soccer team.
Man linked to four murders in Kirkland Lake, Ont., is dead, police say
Ontario Provincial Police say Martyn Rosko, the main suspect in four homicides in Kirkland Lake, is dead.
Want to move out of Canada? Experts explain everything you need to know
If you're planning to leave Canada, there's a laundry list of things that need to be checked off. Experts explain all the steps you need to take before making the move.
Colombian President Petro calls on Venezuela's Maduro to release detailed vote counts from election
Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday called on his close ally, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, to release detailed vote counts of the weekend election in which electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner.
Starbucks sales tumble as customers reject high-priced coffee
Fewer people are going to Starbucks and buying drinks and food, as last quarter was Starbucks' second straight with a sales decline.
Vermont man evacuates neighbours during flooding, weeks after witnessing a driver get swept away
Weeks after Jason Pilbin witnessed a driver get swept away by floodwaters, his northeastern Vermont community was ravaged again by flooding from heavy rains.
Families seek answers after inmates' bodies returned without internal organs
Six families whose loved ones died in Alabama prisons have filed lawsuits against the commissioner of the state's department of corrections, saying their family members' bodies were returned to them missing internal organs after undergoing state-ordered autopsies.
Economy grew 0.2% in May, StatCan estimates 2.2% annualized growth in Q2
The Canadian economy continued to keep its head just above water in May, growing 0.2 per cent, led by expansions in manufacturing and the public sector.
'Severely hypothermic' sailor rescued after spending hours adrift off B.C. coast
A sailboat captain was found alive but suffering from a severe case of hypothermia on Monday after spending up to five hours adrift in the ocean off British Columbia, according to the coast guard.