Accueil Bonneau will be able to resume its weekend meal service to people experiencing homelessness during the month of January thanks to emergency assistance from the Quebec government.
The announcement was made following a meeting between the general director of the Montreal organization and the minister responsible for Social Services on Wednesday.
It was “agreed that the meal service would be maintained through emergency aid,” Minister Lionel Carmant declared on the social network X.
The amount of the grant has yet to be determined, but will come from existing government funds.
The emergency funding should make it possible to maintain the service until March 31, “while the long-term problem is resolved thanks to adequate, predictable and recurring annual funding for the mission,” indicated the general director of Accueil Bonneau, Fiona Crossling, in a written statement.
On December 23, the organization announced that it would have to suspend its weekend food services starting January 6, for an indefinite period, due to a lack of funding.
Despite the announcement of emergency financial support, this decision will be maintained for this weekend due to a question of staff availability. Weekend services could probably resume the following weekend, said a spokesperson for the organization, Raphaël F. Melançon.
Mme Crossling welcomed the support from Quebec, speaking of “a relief both for the people who benefit from a hot meal every day and for the employees whose positions were until now threatened by this situation.”
“Accueil Bonneau appreciates that Minister Carmant has recognized the essential contribution of its food services in the continuum of services offered to people experiencing homelessness,” she commented.
The organization, which has existed for nearly 150 years, claims to distribute hot meals to approximately 400 people daily.
Discussions between the two parties must continue in order to find lasting solutions to financing.
Minister Carmant mentioned that during Wednesday’s meeting, it was also agreed to “see to develop services open 24/7, like other roaming resources”. “It is a fundamental element if we wish to offer the best possible services and help people experiencing homelessness to get off the street,” he added.
Mme Crossling has previously said his organization is seeking $1.2 million a year in stable government funding, including $700,000 for the food program.