Towards the end of fall, more than a hundred people experiencing homelessness or at risk of being homeless will find permanent shelter in a new building in downtown Montreal. The Press visited the construction site of the largest real estate project dedicated to the fight against homelessness in Quebec.
Located near the University of Quebec in Montreal, in a small street hidden between rue Sainte-Catherine and boulevard René-Lévesque, Le Christin stands out against the gray of the surrounding buildings. Adorned with warm-colored bricks, the building brings cheerfulness to this sector under construction, like what it intends to project into the lives of those who will soon occupy it.
Inside, the floors, still covered with paper, reveal their colorful hue. The color is the signature of Atelier Big City, the architectural firm mandated by the Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal (SHDM) for the design of the building. By deciding to embark on real estate projects for people experiencing homelessness, this paramunicipal company, which receives no funding from the City of Montreal, has placed its bet on architectural quality.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Nancy Shoiry, general director of the Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal, and Anne Cormier, architect at Atelier Big City
It is certain that there is a cost difference when we favor quality materials, but in the long term, this is reflected in management costs. It’s not just about building a building, it’s about making it a living environment.
Nancy Shoiry, Executive Director, SHDM
“Architecture is important for everyone,” adds Anne Cormier, architect responsible for the project. She is also a professor at the School of Architecture of the University of Montreal, and her research and teaching work mainly focuses on urban and social housing in city centers. For a clientele who, in some cases, passed through the street, then rooming houses, she wanted to design bright and pleasant spaces, despite the space constraints.
A choice that will have a real impact on residents, believes the general director of Accueil Bonneau, a partner in the project. “If we want to escape homelessness, achieve residential stability, social reaffiliation, it takes places that are interesting,” says Fiona Crossling.
In the eyes of architect Anne Cormier, the urban presence of the building is also important. “There is no reason for buildings to be ugly. That doesn’t do anyone any favors. Architecture has a public presence in the city all the time and stays for a long time. »
A building with heritage value demolished
This project was erected on the ruins of Riga, a building owned by the SHDM, which included affordable housing. Signed in 1914 by the architect Joseph-Arthur Godin, the Riga was one of the rare Art Nouveau buildings in Montreal and had been designated by the Ville-Marie borough as having “exceptional value”. Faced with its deterioration, the SHDM began its renovation until a structural failure was detected, putting an end to the repair work. The structure lacked columns and frames and should have been completely redone to comply with current standards, argues the SHDM.
It was a difficult decision that we had to defend in city and borough committees. Yes, the building perhaps had a certain heritage value, but we are making it a social project to help people who do not have this offer in the current market.
Nancy Shoiry, general director of the SHDM
At the time of the demolition of the four-story building in 2019, the SHDM indicated that it would do what was necessary to leave a trace of the heritage. However, the evocation of the old building is discreet. “Different scenarios were studied,” declares Julien Serra, spokesperson for the SHDM. In light of the studies and budgets, it was decided to prioritize the completion of the project and the needs of future tenants. The reference to Riga lies in the architectural concept itself, i.e. the singularity of the building in its immediate environment. » He specifies that the SHDM is considering the integration of a mention of the original building using a QR code or an inscription visible from the outside.
More housing
A concern for densification and optimization of space has made it possible to increase the number of housing units. From 65 in the Riga, it increased to 114 in the new building, mainly thanks to the addition of three floors. The interior is divided into two sections. On one side, small studios with an area of 21.6 m2 (approximately 230 ft2) with kitchenette and bathroom, intended for single men. On the other, slightly larger units of 25.8 m2 (approximately 280 ft2) at 37 m2 (approximately 400 ft2), with one or two rooms, which can be shared by two people, men or women, couples or roommates.
“We see that there are more and more different profiles knocking on our doors,” observes Anna Torres, clinical coordinator of accommodation services at Accueil Bonneau. We wanted a project focused on social diversity. » The profiles of the people who will be chosen by the organization to live there will be varied. Men, women, refugees and asylum seekers, seniors and young adults from the DPJ, indigenous people or people from the LGBTQ+ community will be able to rub shoulders.
The building, which will double the housing supply at Accueil Bonneau, will accommodate people ready to live with greater autonomy, but who still need psychosocial support. Speakers from Accueil Bonneau will be on site. According to the general director, the project will help relieve congestion in other buildings managed by Accueil Bonneau and other organizations.
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ILLUSTRATION PROVIDED BY ATELIER BIG CITY
In this illustration, we can see the tall planters that will be installed to create privacy on the ground floor where the speakers’ offices and a community room have been set up.
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ILLUSTRATION PROVIDED BY ATELIER BIG CITY
The rear of the building overlooks the small rue Savignac.
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An investment of 23.5 million
The construction site having been delayed by several months by the pandemic, it is now expected that the first tenants, who will pay rent equivalent to 25% of their income thanks to the Rent Supplement Program, will move in during the fall. Although the SHDM’s mandate is to make affordable, private or community rental housing available, it has never before carried out a social housing project for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. “We hope that this will serve as an example to show that such projects can be done,” says Nancy Shoiry. It’s essential, but it takes a lot of effort. We are still working hard today to secure funding. » Nearly $23.5 million was invested in the project.
In its 2014-2017 Montreal Homelessness Action Plan, the City of Montreal identified the SHDM as a partner in the creation of 1,000 housing units for vulnerable or homeless people. A target of 200 new housing units for the SHDM was subsequently specified. This objective will almost be achieved since in addition to the 114 housing units in Le Christin, the company will inaugurate in the coming months two other projects of 54 and 25 units, which will be managed by two other organizations, namely the Maison du Père and Chez Doris.
Corrigendum
An earlier version of this text indicated that the SHDM will assume the operating deficit of the building, estimated at $280,000 per year, a figure that had been announced at the start of the project. However, the SHDM is in the process of finalizing financing options in order to fill the initially planned operating deficit.