Montreal opens warming centre without waiting for Quebec's approval

At the last minute before the winter cold snap, the City of Montreal decided not to wait for Quebec's approval to open a 30-seat drop-in centre, which cost $20,000 to bring up to safety standards.

Robert Beaudry, the executive committee member responsible for homelessness, said operating the drop-in centre could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A few weeks ago, the city suggested to the province that two sites — including the Lucien-Saulnier building — be used for warming centres. Quebec has not yet agreed to fund this project. “We still don't have the seal of approval, but there was no question of us waiting any longer,” said Plante.

“We have something that will provide structure, we have something that meets a need, it's a government responsibility. The state must assume its responsibilities in this regard,” said Beaudry.

“We're reaching out today, we're saying, ‘Montrealers, we're ready to make an effort, to open it up quickly because the need is there now’. But there's no way we're not going to get our money back.”

Ottawa will contribute $50 million over two years as part of a $250 million envelope announced in the 2024 budget to combat homelessness and encampments across the country. The money will be given to Santé Québec, which will distribute the funds to the regions. Montreal should receive half of the federal money.

“It's a bit odd that it was only last Friday, on Dec. 16, that the federal money finally went through Quebec City, and now we're calling for projects for resources this winter,” said Plante, visibly concerned about the slow pace of the process.

Part of the Lucien-Saulnier building, which has been used as a temporary city hall in recent years, has been refurbished to provide 24 places for men and six places for women. There is also a cage for pets to warm up. The warming station will be open as of Friday evening, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., for the rest of the winter.

Plante acknowledged that it is not ideal for homeless people to sleep on chairs, but she explained that this was an emergency measure to prevent them from having no shelter at night to keep warm.

“This predictability, this planning, we need to do much more to offer sites where people can, not just move from one evening to the next. Let's face it, a hot spot is a chair. Sleeping on a chair is hard,” admitted the mayor.

She pointed out that the work to bring the building up to standard had been carried out at full speed by the Montreal fire department so that places could be made available before the freezing temperatures forecast for the coming nights.

On Dec. 15, a 55-year-old homeless man was found dead in a park in the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough. He may have died of hypothermia, according to the authorities, which an autopsy will be able to confirm.

Two other emergency stops

Beaudry stressed that this is a temporary solution.

“No one is insensitive to what we see on the streets. Sleeping on canvas is not a permanent situation. Nor is it a permanent situation to sleep in a shelter or a rest area. We need to continue our efforts,” he said, adding that “other projects are in the pipeline.”

Workers from the Équipe mobile de médiation et d'intervention sociale de la Ville de Montréal (ÉMMIS) and agents from SECO Sécurité will be deployed to the new drop-in centre.

Two other places for people experiencing homelessness will open in the next few days in Montreal. A space at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) will be available on Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. in the J.A. De Sève building at UQAM, 320 Sainte-Catherine Street East. A total of 50 people can be accommodated, and food and hot drinks will be served. Three workers from the Société de développement social (SDS) will be on site, along with three UQAM security guards.

The Centre de coordination des mesures d'urgence de Montréal will also be opening a temporary emergency shelter (CHU) at the Downtown YMCA, located at 1440 rue Stanley in Ville-Marie. The 50-bed shelter will open its doors on Saturday. Users will be able to use the shelter between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. A room will be set aside exclusively for women, with police surveillance.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French Dec. 19, 2024.