The mayoress of Montreal on Wednesday condemned the “absence” of social services in efforts to restore luster to the neighborhood surrounding Émilie-Gamelin park.
“Those who are not around the table are the Integrated University Center for Health and Social Services (CIUSSS), lamented Ms.me Plante, on the sidelines of a press conference. I need their expertise, I need them to come and relieve the pressure in a sector that is heating up. » Mme Plante was referring to the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud de Montréal.
“What is missing are teams to support vulnerable people at the level of mental health, at the level of addiction,” she continued. “There have already been patrols of nurses in the streets. There is none left. »
This downtown area has been in the news for several months due to the deteriorating social and economic climate that prevails there. Two weeks ago, the flagship of the Archambault chain, located at the corner of Sainte-Catherine and Berri, announced its closure after more than 100 years in the neighborhood.
Mme Plante explained that the city had held an emergency meeting in order to find short-term solutions. “We are on the move,” she said. We must go further and support traders even more. She argued that the city is investing and will continue to invest millions in the sector.
But social services do not fulfill their mandate in this sector, according to the elected official, who says she is launching “a call from the heart”.
“The CIUSSS – health – must deploy appropriate services to ensure that the cohabitation goes well. And that’s who is missing right now,” she said.
“We can’t force someone to use a shelter”
The CIUSS du Centre-Sud does not hear it with the same ear.
“We are surprised by this statement when we have already been present in the field for years in order to intervene directly, in an innovative way, with populations who need it in order to facilitate their access to mental health services”, reacted spokesperson Jean Nicolas Aubé by email. Mr. Aubé made a long list of committees and consultation tables in which his organization participates.
“In homelessness and mental health, the responsibility of the health network is to provide care and social services to people who request it, which we do,” he added. “It’s important to say that we can’t force someone to use a shelter, if that person doesn’t want to. »