Today, a collaboration of government and financial partners unveiled four new housing initiatives aimed at creating safe havens for vulnerable women and their children. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at Montreal’s historic Le Chaînon, where officials gathered to celebrate the opening of the transitional shelter l’Annexe, a crucial addition to the city’s services for women escaping violence or instability.
The event also marked the launch of Parados, a second-stage shelter, along with the introduction of l’Élan by Un toit pour elles and RLS by La Sortie, both receiving new funding. These initiatives will collectively provide 67 new social and affordable housing units, as well as vital support services to aid women in rebuilding their lives with security and respect.
The projects, spearheaded by Bâtir son quartier and Atelier Habitation Montréal, received over $48 million in combined funding from the Canadian and Quebec governments, the City of Montreal, Desjardins Fonds du Grand Mouvement, and Fonds de solidarité FTQ.
The announcement was led by key figures including Rachel Bendayan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister of Canada; Caroline Proulx, Quebec’s Minister Responsible for Housing and the Status of Women; Caroline Desrochers, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure; and Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Mayor of Montreal. Their message underscored the critical need for sustainable housing solutions to support women experiencing violence and socioeconomic challenges.
