The Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, is “in favour” of the relocation of day services for the homeless at Maison Benoît Labre, which was requested by Montreal. The difficult cohabitation with an elementary school near the centre had been cited as a reason. Maison Benoît Labre says for its part it wants to continue providing its services.
In response to a question from a citizen who lives near Maison Benoît Labre during a municipal council meeting on Monday evening, the mayor of the Sud-Ouest borough, Benoit Dorais, said he had had “discussions with Minister Lionel Carmant.” These discussions aimed to “ask him to move the day centre services to another, more suitable location,” a request partly due to the approaching start of the school year.
By email, the minister’s office confirmed that it was “in favour of relocating the day services of the Maison Benoît Labre”. “We note that the issues of cohabitation remain despite all the efforts that have been made.”
Difficult cohabitation
At the beginning of 2024, Maison Benoît Labre was set up about a hundred meters from an elementary school and a park in the Saint-Henri district. Social cohabitation is difficult between the center and the residential area where it is located, Mr. Dorais admitted during the city council. The mayor of the South-West district also expressed that the measures put in place — such as a cleanliness brigade for syringes and plant screens — have not proven themselves and that there is still “a lot of incivility.”
Maison Benoît Labre offers 24/7 support services for homeless and marginalized people, drug use spaces and 36 transitional housing units for homeless people. Only support services are affected by the desire to relocate, because it is the services “associated with the day centre that create the most difficulties and insecurity with citizens,” noted Benoit Dorais.
In a statement sent by email, Andréane Desilets, director of Maison Benoît Labre, indicates that the latter will continue to “ask for the full collaboration of all our partners, including the City of Montreal, to continue to provide services that are essential and save lives.” “In recent months, we have put several measures in place to limit the effects on the neighbourhood through various measures,” she adds.
In order to “enable the relocation of the day centre”, Minister Carmant’s office specifies that they will “continue to work with all stakeholders involved”. “However, we expect the City to offer us several alternative sites to avoid a concentration of services”, it states. At the city council, Benoit Dorais said “we offered Minister Carmant our full cooperation to find a suitable location”.