The ongoing STM transit strike is having a significant impact on vulnerable residents in the city. Sun Youth, a local community organization, has observed a 25% decrease in clients visiting their food bank appointments. To address this issue, Sun Youth has extended its operating hours, opening earlier and closing later to accommodate clients struggling with the limited transit schedule.
Due to the strike, bus and metro services are limited to morning and late afternoon rush hours, affecting late-night service as well. Sun Youth has announced that they will adjust their appointment schedule to align with the STM’s reduced service hours, from 8 am to 5 pm, ensuring continued access to their food assistance program.
In a statement to CityNews, Sun Youth emphasized their commitment to supporting the community during this challenging time: “With the STM strike ongoing, Sun Youth is implementing measures to uphold access to our food assistance program. Despite the transportation constraints faced by our staff and volunteers, we are working diligently to prevent anyone from being overlooked.”
Sun Youth currently serves an average of 115 individuals daily at their food bank, and the strike has posed additional difficulties for clients, especially those with young children. The labor dispute involving 2,400 maintenance workers is anticipated to persist until November 28, prolonging the disruptions to transit services and impacting the daily lives of many residents.
