Old Brewery Mission to open apartment units for older Montrealers who are homeless
The Old Brewery Mission is building new apartment units for a growing section of the homeless population: older Montrealers.
A 27-unit permanent housing project is underway in the St-Michel neighbourhood, designed for people 50 and older.
It's a population Old Brewery Mission CEO James Hughes says is especially vulnerable, and makes up about 50 per cent of the homeless population.
"We know that people who are older are more often victimized by their landlord. We see more evictions of seniors," Hughes said, adding that homelessness comes with a heavy physical toll. "It ages you more quickly. The stats show that the average age of people who are homeless is, on average, 10 years less than the average population."
A second building nearby will have 16 studio apartments for young people. The idea is to not just have shelters and housing downtown, but apartments spread out across the island," said Mayor Valerie Plante.
"There is need everywhere. There are vulnerable people across the city, across the island. And often if you talk to people that have more financial precarity, they'll say, 'I want to stay in my neighbourhood,'" she said.
The first permits for the St-Michel project were approved in April 2022. Less than two years later, it's nearing completion.
"Not only do I prefer that because it's smaller, but ultimately I love it because it's not about emergency anymore. It's about saying, 'Here's a long-term sustainable solution for you,'" said Plante.
Those who live at this supervised site will be chosen by the Old Brewery Mission.
Quebec is helping fund the project with a $2.1 million contribution, as well as subsidizing the rent for the 27 tenants.
It comes at a time when Finance Minister Eric Girard is warning this year's budget will likely run a bigger deficit.
"I don't want to scoop the budget. You know, I'm very well aware that Mr. Girard is very sensitive to social services," said Lionel Carmant, minister for health and social services.
Hughes said housing needs to be a priority in the Quebec budget, set to be released next week.
"Housing has to be a one, two or three issue for him. This is not just a Montreal issue. This is a Quebec issue," he said.
With a growing need, there are already applications coming in for the building. Tenants are expected to move in this October.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Banking mogul suing government after intelligence leaks leave him shut out of Canadian economy
Chinese Canadian banking mogul Shenglin Xian has launched a $300 million lawsuit against the federal government. It’s a means to find the source of intelligence leaks which Xian says has cost him his livelihood.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
His SUV was stolen on Montreal's South Shore. Then he got a $156 parking ticket
A couple is frustrated after their SUV was stolen from Montreal's South Shore in March and they received a parking ticket for the same vehicle last week.
Evacuation orders lifted in Fort McMurray Saturday as rain dampens wildfire activity
Residents of Fort of McMurray who were displaced over wildfire concerns were told to return home Saturday.
Member of Israel's War Cabinet says he'll quit June 8 unless there's new war plan
Benny Gantz, a centrist member of Israel’s three-member War Cabinet, threatened on Saturday to resign from the government if it doesn't adopt a new plan in three weeks' time for the war in Gaza.
To plant or not to plant? Gardening tips for May long weekend
May long weekend is finally here, and with the extra time off you may be getting the itch to head out to your garden and plant. However, the old debate whether you should plant now, or wait, is still ever-present.
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Scottie Scheffler, from the course to jail and back: What to know about his PGA Championship arrest
Two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was arrested after police say he dragged an officer while trying to get around the scene of a fatal accident Friday ahead of the second round of the PGA Championship.