MONTREAL -- Resilience Montreal, a day centre close to Cabot Square, has less than four months to find a permanent address for a space intended for homeless people, many of whom are Inuit, in an area of downtown Montreal that is gentrifying rapidly.
All in the midst of a pandemic.
Minister responsible for Native Affairs Ian Lafreniere announced assistance to the tune of $600,000 at a news conference on Saturday meant to help find a home.
The money comes from the Native Initiatives Fund III for the acquisition and development of a building by April, when the organization will have to leave its current location, at the intersection of Atwater Ave. and Sainte-Catherine St.
Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante hopes to be able to avoid a breakdown in service.
Resilience president Nakuset says the team is working day and night to avoid leaving a void like the departure of the drop-in centre: The Open Door. Local organizations reported 14 deaths in a few months in this area, after the centre moved.
-- this report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2020.
