CARE Montreal is sinking into crisis, while concern is growing for the 250 homeless people who find refuge there every night, in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
In the past four days, the agency’s chief executive has resigned, executives have expressed “great unease” with the situation and employees have expressed fear for their jobs on Tuesday morning.
“We are extremely concerned about the possibility of a disruption of services,” said Tuesday the spokesperson for the union members who were demonstrating, the vice-president of the Federation of Health and Social Services (FSSS-CSN) Lucie Longchamps. “We are asking CARE Montreal’s partners, in particular the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud and the City of Montreal, to help us find a solution so that the 150 people currently [employées par] organization can continue their work. »
The Press revealed on Saturday that the president of the board of directors of CARE had slammed the door of the organization by denouncing an embezzlement of grants by Michel Monette, founder of the organization and Mennonite pastor. On a budget of nearly 11 million, $600,000 in expenses would have benefited board members, members of management or their families.
CARE is currently the subject of a power struggle between its faithful and the laity. Last week, the former blocked the attempted merger between CARE Montreal and the CAP Saint-Barnabé organization, a project promoted by the latter. The HOCHMA Mennonite Church has also regained control over CARE’s board of directors.
“We have to stick together”
Pierre-Paul Borduas, lawyer and spokesperson for the Church and CARE, explained in an interview on Tuesday that a “transitional” general manager had been selected, pending the appointment of a general manager “by interim”. The situation is improving, he said.
“Employees are not at all threatened with losing their jobs in the short term,” continued the lawyer, pointing out that several grants end on March 31, 2023. The new boss has written to all of his team members. to rally them and tell them “that we are in a situation where we have to stick together”, summed up Me Bordeaux.
On Monday, 18 CARE Montreal executives signed a letter to the board of directors expressing their “deep unease” about the direction the organization was taking.
“We wish to continue the activities of Care Montreal, but under sound governance, without the influence of a religious group, in pursuit of the regrouping with Cap St-Barnabé and for the well-being of homeless people in Montreal. “, they wrote. They accuse the faithful of Mr. Monette of wanting to “appropriate the assets and the money of the taxpayers for the benefits of their religious community”.
At the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, it is indicated that the responsibility of the health network is limited to “funding projects”. The CIUSSS referred The Press to CAP Saint-Barnabé, the organization that receives the grants on behalf of CARE Montreal. CAP Saint-Barnabé has cut ties with CARE Montreal, according to a letter written Saturday by its board of directors.