Cabot Square situation is grim
Another CBC piece on the Cabot Square homeless situation mentions the real problem in the penultimate paragraph: winter is coming. Fourteen people have died since the Open Door shelter moved away, and there’s only talk so far about creating something else to replace it.
Update: a new support centre will open soon in that empty building at the corner of Atwater and Ste-Catherine that has housed various restaurants.
Michael Black 16:51 on 2019-10-15 Permalink
Later in the day, the CBC has a story a story up that the old building that used to be the McDonald’s at Atwater and Ste-Catherine Street will become a day shelter. That’s good news, I decided there were more clothes I could give away, and this is closer than The Open Door.
It does leave me wondering why the Door didn’t move there last year. They had been looking for a closer place, but every time they were close to signing, issues came up. But I think that location has been empty all this time. Maybe too expensive or needing too much renovation, but the Open Door seemed in decent financial shape, while a coalition of groups is doing this, albeit with government funding.
Michael
DeWolf 21:39 on 2019-10-15 Permalink
Michael, that building was occupied by a Japanese restaurant until August. It wasn’t empty until now.
Michael Black 21:52 on 2019-10-15 Permalink
Okay, I knew it had been used more recently than the McDonald’s, but thought it had been empty longer. I’ve not been at that corner since at least February, but thought it had been empty. I must be thinking of some earlier time the building was empty.
Michael
Michael Black 21:17 on 2019-10-16 Permalink
And on Wednesday there are stories about how Chez Doris had received a donation of $1M and will open a new shelter in the area. This is for overnight, if I read it right. And for both men and women, while of course Chez Doris is a day shelter for women only. No word on where it will be, just in the area.
Michael