Watch out for Cabot Square
On weekends, at noon, Cabot Square comes alive for lunch time. For the past few weeks, citizens have been mobilizing there every Saturday and Sunday to distribute a hundred meals to the itinerant population that gathers there.
A stone's throw from the square, three times a day from Monday to Friday, Resilience Montreal offers 300 meals to those in need. When the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the household's activities, it was the City of Montreal that ensured the distribution of meals. The organization was able to resume service on August 31, but is not yet in a position to open its doors on the weekend. “We can only admit a total of 60 people to our premises, so it had a big impact on our activities,” says Nakuset, the director of Resilience Montreal.
The shelter has been taking every precaution since the start of the second wave of the pandemic and hopes to soon be able to open 7 days a week. “The hostel is closed on weekends because the employees are exhausted; they needed to take time off,” she said. I was worried that if we were closed on the weekend, the population would not have food. So I contacted Diane Gervais, who knew how to move mountains.”
To ensure the distribution of meals on Saturday and Sunday, Ms. Gervais answered Nakuset's call with the help of Kelly Warren, a friend, and Anastasia Ericson and Rose-Elizabeth Cormier, two young citizens she met online in a community group. They have been mobilizing to collect donations and ensure the weekend food distribution at Cabot Square since September.
The group was also able to get help from volunteers from Khalsa Aid Canada, an international Sikh organization that teams up with the Cabot Square Brigade and prepares meals. “Even though our organization is based on the Sikh faith, we are ready to serve anyone, regardless of religion, gender or origin,” says one of the Khalsa Aid volunteers. When the team shows up for the appointment, the Good morning.
“Everything is going very well, there were no incidents, remarks Diane Gervais. People are very patient, they eat and talk together.” For several decades, Cabot Square has been a meeting place for Indigenous peoples, especially for the Inuit community.
“There is talk of decolonization, but nothing is being implemented for Cabot Square,” laments Anastasia Ericson. Dozens of homeless people are found there every day.
A lack of resources compounded by COVID-19
With the pandemic, homeless services must constantly adapt to new challenges. This is also the case for the citizen initiative in Cabot Square: food supplies are starting to run out, even as more and more people come to get food on the weekends. According to some people who were there, there was no other similar initiative elsewhere on Saturday and Sunday.
Nakuset indicates that the City distributed food in temporary outdoor shelters, among others at Place Émilie-Gamelin and Place du Canada. These operations stopped on August 31st. Asked about this, the City of Montreal replied that outdoor food distribution sites, such as the one in Cabot Square, were opened to relay organizations whose services were reduced due to the pandemic.
These fixed food distribution sites were closed on 31 August when food aid agencies resumed their activities. This service has therefore been returned to the organizations ever since. While Resilience Montréal was able to reopen its doors, it must nevertheless deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevents it from operating at maximum capacity. Ms. Gervais believes that the City should do more. “I am happy to help Resilience, but we should not be doing the City's work. If Resilience lacks resources, then the City must intervene,” she pleads.Nakuset points out that there is a great need for food, but also for shelter.
“The fact that people are under Highway 720 shows that they have nowhere to go,” she said. Last Monday morning, the camp that was not far from Atwater Avenue, near Cabot Square, was dismantled. “What do we propose to keep people warm and to feed them? What is the alternative? — this is the question I am asking the City”, she continues, recalling that shelters can only be occupied at 60% of their capacity due to the pandemic and the need to respect physical distance. For this same reason, the city's shopping centers, subway, and underground spaces are inaccessible at this time.
As temperatures drop, the needs for the homeless population are becoming more and more pressing. David Chapman, Resilience Coordinator, is worried about the arrival of winter and the effects of the pandemic. He wonders where people will be able to go this year. “In the population we serve, many people do not have access to shelters at night. Last year, many used services “in between”, such as a 24-hour restaurant or the subway, but this is no longer possible this year,” he said.
Considering this problem, Mr. Chapman is worried about attending even more commemorative services, as two ceremonies took place last week in Cabot Square. Before joining Résilience, the social worker worked for the organization Open Doors.
As a result of the forced move of the home to another neighborhood, 14 deaths occurred near the square. “When you take away basic services, there are human consequences,” he says. He recognizes that several initiatives led by the City and local authorities have emerged near Cabot Square as a result of these tragedies. “We need services for the homeless in the neighborhood,” he insists. If only we could have learned this lesson without deaths.”
Towards accessible services
David Chapman works in Cabot Square from Monday to Friday, walkie-talkie in hand. “It's like an extension of my family,” he says of the people who frequent the park. A large part of it, which he estimates to be 40% Inuit, comes there for the services of the household. Mr. Chapman adds that the City of Montreal plans to open an emergency center to welcome people struggling with addictions, but that he does not have more information on this subject at the moment. “I know that we should be able to offer about 400 beds in the city, but we don't know when or where.”
These details are critical because, according to him, they will determine who will be able to take advantage of this service. The intervener notes that, last year, several Resilience clients were able to obtain the homeless services offered at the former Royal-Victoria Hospital, until these suddenly changed and became a transitional housing program.
The stakeholder believes that this type of program, whose results are easily measurable, is easier to obtain funding from among the funds allocated, which are very limited, and that several initiatives adapt accordingly. “This is a good thing for the people who are admitted to this program, but the most vulnerable individuals who went to Royal-Victoria last year are wondering where they will go this year.”
The City of Montreal maintains that in response to the partial resumption of traditional emergency housing services activities and the closure of temporary resources, it has implemented a transition plan that consists of providing beds until March 2021. “All the people who were housed in temporary places that closed were directed by the health network and community organizations to other places of accommodation. Nobody was left behind,” we are told.
Mr. Chapman argues that we need shelters that are accessible, that is to say that are open to everyone: to addicted individuals, to those who have pets and to couples. Other factors can also discourage people who come in, such as the requirement to identify themselves, to have to answer questions, or to fill out long forms. “These are barriers for the homeless population, especially for those dealing with mental health problems,” he notes.
According to him, a transitional housing program can be beneficial for some individuals, but not for others — which creates divisions. “Those who know how to bear witness to their transition qualify, and those who are unable to do so are still there, in the park,” he summarizes. “And it's not because of a lack of will,” he adds. Mr. Chapman knows the stories and needs of those who frequent Cabot Square. He believes that they need services that are better adapted to the traumas they have experienced. “We live in a country that has experienced over 100 years of cultural genocide; the legacy of all of this can be seen here in this park.”
Résilience Montréal takes care of anyone who needs help. “We meet people where they are and we meet their needs,” explains Mr. Chapman again. Instead of listing the services we offer people, we ask them what they need and we help them get it.”
The home thus offers support to drug addicts, helps some to return to their northern community of origin and allows others to have access to housing. In particular, the day center has a rest area, a laundry room and a shower, and offers the services of its workers.
Resources
If you want to donate, Resilience Montreal currently needs warm clothing, new underwear, shoes, winter boots and umbrellas. Donations can be dropped off from 8 am to 3 am in the afternoon from Monday to Friday at 4000 Sainte-Catherine Ouest.
To join the volunteer team and donate food to the organization, you can write to resilience.montreal@gmail.com.