In an effort to help alleviate the homelessness crisis while also providing much needed support – Montreal’s Welcome Hall Mission is a opening a 24/7 women’s only transitional facility which helps those in the unhoused community struggling with mental health. It’s called the Reaffiliation Program for Homelessness and Mental Health (PRISM).
Located at 4755 Acorn Street, on the 2nd floor, in Montreal, it offers eight rooms for women in need.
“It provides rapid access to a therapeutic transitional environment, intensive clinical and psychosocial support, and a safe and caring space for women aged 18 and over. This support aims to facilitate the transition to stable housing and a genuine path to recovery for this vulnerable clientele,” says a press release.
It’s Welcome Hall initiative in collaboration with the Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal regional health authority (CIUSSS), developed through partnerships between emergency and transitional housing resources, the health and social services network, and regional partners.
“PRISM is a proven program that helps people living with mental health issues regain residential stability by combining the best psychiatric care with the expertise of community organizations such as Mission Bon Accueil (Welcome Hall Mission),” explained Sam Watts, President and CEO, of Welcome Hall Mission.
“We are very pleased with this partnership with the CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest, which has allowed us to support men at the Macaulay Pavilion since 2017 and now to offer this service here to women in need, with compassion and dignity. The strength of our continuum of services lies in its ability to forge strong partnerships and combine expertise.”
PRISM is a housing program developed in Montreal to fill gaps in services for homeless people with serious mental illness. PRISM is primarily aimed at people with psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
“The benefits of the PRISM program are confirmed by research, which shows that between 63 per cent and 81 per cent of individuals are still in housing one year after completing the program. This residential stability is also accompanied by improvements in quality of life,” explained the organizations in a press release.
“I welcome the rollout of this initiative, which illustrates the commitment of all partners to fight homelessness, both in Montreal and across Quebec. I am particularly pleased that this initiative targets women who are homeless and living with mental health issues, as they face a double vulnerability. It is by joining forces and investing in innovative solutions that we can offer hope to those who need our support the most,” said Lionel Carmant, Quebec Minister responsible for Social Services.
“Thanks to a multidisciplinary team, we promote recovery in the person’s environment by offering personalized support toward stable housing and access to care in the community. Our approach is based on the strengths of each individual, who plays a central role in every step of their journey toward reintegration,” added Dr. Vincent Laliberté, psychiatrist at the CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal and medical director of PRISM programs at Welcome Hall Mission.
This initiative is in line with the 2022-2026 Interdepartmental Mental Health Action Plan (PAISM), the 2021-2026 Interdepartmental Action Plan on Homelessness, and the 2018-2028 Interdepartmental Action Plan on Addiction, which aim to provide personalized support, regular psychiatric assessments, and nursing care to people experiencing homelessness and mental health issues.
