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Resilience Montréal

Created a temporary day and well-being centre for homeless Indigenous communities

At Montréal in Canada
In 2019
By Architecture Sans Frontières Québec - Canada
Local partners: Résilience Montréal
Donors: Ville de Montréal

In Montréal’s Cabot Square area, Indigenous communities make up 40% of the homeless population. Many visited the centre seeking medical services, employment and even to escape violence. In 2018, the only nearby day centre was forced to move due to the pressure of gentrification, worsening the situation and leading to the death of 14 of these vulnerable citizens, mainly women. In the face of this humanitarian and health crisis, Nakuset, Director of the Native Women’s Shelter, along with Sheila Woodhouse, Director of the Nazareth Community, located a building and asked for the ASFQ’s help to transform it into a temporary day centre. In one month, architect Claire Davenport, along with ASFQ volunteers, managed to condense the design, procurement, work and acquisition of permits, all the while considering the social and cultural specificities of the target beneficiaries. The centre’s visual identity was also created by David Calmel based on an Inuit symbol – the inukshuk. Today, Resilience Montréal offers food and a place to wash up and rest, along with frontline services, psychosocial support, personal care and a laundry service. A second phase of the project will aim to find a location in which to establish a permanent facility.

Resilience Montréal
Resilience Montréal
Resilience Montréal
Resilience Montréal
Resilience Montréal
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