COVID-19 outbreaks reported at all of Montreal's major homeless shelters
There are COVID-19 outbreaks at all five major homeless shelters in Montreal, according to the organizations.
They say most of the cases are asymptomatic, but it has limited the number of places available for people in need.
Welcome Hall Mission CEO Sam Watts states they have seen a steady increase of cases per week, even with public health protocols in place to protect people.
With winter just around the corner, Watts says he hopes the government will add at least 120 beds, available 24 hours a day, in downtown Montreal to combat the loss of spots at the shelters.
This isn't a new request; last June, seven Montreal-area shelters released a five-year plan to reduce homelessness in the city.
Part of that plan was a call for additional beds that would be available at all times to those who need them.
"We need more capacity as we come closer to winter," said Old Brewery Mission president James Hughes. "But we don't just need extra beds, we also need a change in thinking about what we're doing with that extra capacity."
Watts adds the 24-hour model allows shelters to provide the kinds of services that help people leave homelessness behind.
"During the day is the best time really to meet with intervention workers, to meet with social workers, to meet with housing experts," said Watts. "You can't do that at night."
Last summer, the Old Brewery Mission and Welcome Hall Mission opened a 24-hour shelter with 150 beds at the Hôtel Dieu Hospital.
"We've managed to help 76 people get back into housing since the onset of that particular project -- and that's in the context of a Montreal with a bit of a housing shortage," said Watts.
Hughes adds a lack of affordable housing in the city has played a major role in the rise in homelessness.
"There is just less and less and less housing available for extremely poor people," he said. "There's basically a zero vacancy rate for the kind of housing that our clientele needs."
For its part, the Quebec government recently announced a $280 million investment over the next five years to improve services for the province's homeless population.
A large part of that money ($77 million) will go toward supporting people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of becoming homeless.
An additional amount of $14 million will fund projects aimed at reducing homelessness for Indigenous people.
The three main goals are prevention, intervention and collaboration with community organizations, according to government officials.
-- with files from CTV News' Matt Gilmour and Christine Long.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.