The Fulford Residence, a charitable organization under the presidency of the Anglican Bishop of Montreal, will sell its building in 2022.
Built in the 1850s and owned by James E. Major, the house was purchased in 1890 by Church Home, who renamed it in 1982 to become the Fulford Residence. Named in memory of Frances Fulford, wife of the first Anglican bishop of Montreal, this organization has been a home for many women for years.
Let’s go back to that time: the organization welcomed many immigrant women, young and old, in search of shelter, a meal and a job. The mission of this building has evolved into an ideal place to welcome and care for older women. Located in the heart of the Peter-McGill district, on Guy Street, this historic Montreal building is now arousing the envy of several organizations.
Although the entity responsible for the management of the building wants it to continue to come to the aid of the surrounding community, it is to wonder whether the sustainability of the primary vocation proper to the residence will weigh more heavily in the balance than a very attractive purchase offer!
As a decisive organization in the district, it seems essential to us that this historic monument remains in harmony with its community mission and that its heritage value be preserved.
Today, Peter-McGill’s population stands at 35,789 people, and nearly a third (32%) live alone. In addition to the various social problems that these people may face, many live in a precarious situation due to their income. To give you an idea of the size, it is almost half (47.3%) of people living alone who live below the poverty line.
In addition to a large low-income population on its territory, the Peter McGill neighborhood is marked by a high concentration of visible vulnerable populations. Stroll through the streets of the area and you may notice the increased presence of homeless individuals struggling with fragile physical and mental health, some of whom are affected by drug addiction or alcoholism. Although there are organizations and shelters to welcome and help this type of clientele, whether due to a lack of staff, a lack of funding or a lack of emergency beds, housing social and affordable housing, they struggle to meet the needs of a growing list of homeless people, which includes many women.
Moreover, when we talk about social housing, note that this district, although it accounts for 40.1% of the total population of the borough of Ville-Marie, has a deep deficit in this area.
Only 440 social housing units are listed there, or just under 6% of all social housing in Ville-Marie. By way of comparison, other districts of the borough, such as Saint-Jacques and Sainte-Marie, have 3,727 and 3,327 each, respectively, for much smaller populations.
So, what future should we hold in store for the Fulford Residence? Like the latest figures for social housing and as a percentage of the low-income population, the answer seems obvious to us. In more than 130 years of history, the residence has not only been a place of tranquility for women in need, but also an emblematic symbol of the community of this neighborhood. Today, the community, the citizens of Peter-McGill, needs even more the support of an establishment with a social mission. Together, let’s preserve the memory and legacy of Frances Fulford, the founder of the residence, and offer new social housing to the residents of Peter-McGill.