Overflows at the Hôtel-Dieu refuge | The City is trying to implement solutions

In response to the many overflows observed in recent weeks around the shelter for the homeless at the Hôtel-Dieu, the City of Montreal and community organizations have begun to act.

William Theriault
The Press

The surroundings of the Hôtel-Dieu, located on Saint-Urbain Street, as well as those of Devonshire Park, have been the scene of various offenses committed by homeless people since the end of May. Drug consumption and trafficking, thefts, fights, insults, unsanitary conditions… Witnessing these behaviors daily, the residents of the area are exhausted.

In order to counter the problem, the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough has begun to increase the frequency of visits by maintenance crews to clean a public road described as “unsanitary” by many residents. This is what he argued during a citizen meeting that brought together nearly 90 people on Tuesday evening.

The borough “is also evaluating the possibility” of installing a chemical toilet in Devonshire Park, and claims to have taken “steps for the financing of a new street worker position”.

Danielle Fleury, Deputy President and CEO of the Center hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), owner of the premises, mentioned the possibility of leasing part of the land near the Hôtel-Dieu to the City to allow shelter users to use it.

Burnt out

Out of breath, a resident emptied his heart for almost 10 minutes during the question period. He says he saw homeless people “ripping open trash cans, smoking crack 20 yards” from his home.

“Every day, I spend my life on my phone photographing or filming [des débordements]. It drinks in broad daylight, the children are afraid. […] I am no longer confident in my home. My quality of life deteriorated. »

“I’m exhausted from calling 911. I call them every day. It’s very complicated mentally, ”denounced the administrator of an apartment building in the neighborhood, during the meeting.

“It’s the first time in 52 years that I don’t feel safe in my neighborhood,” said another resident. I have a dog that I don’t walk half the time [pour cette raison]. »

Faced with complaints from citizens, the organizers of the meeting said they were understanding. Émilie Fortier, director of emergency services at the Old Brewery Mission, said she “shares the feeling of helplessness” of the residents. “There is a real interest in improving access to services and fostering communication,” she added.

Invited to do what he could to “move” the resource, Councilor Alex Norris, however, recalled that his mission was to “integrate the place successfully” into the borough, because the decision of its location was taken by the Department of Health and Social Services.