Montreal shelter left scrambling without new location, forcing almost 50 people to the street – Montreal [Video]

Montreal’s Ricochet emergency overnight shelter for people experiencing homelessness is being forced to close its doors this week, cutting off its services to about 50 vulnerable people.

The announcement comes after years of relocation plans in the works. The shelter began looking for a new space in 2021 after the owner terminated the lease. They eventually found a new space by the end of 2023 which required major renovations that were expected to last six to 12 months.

They found a temporary space to set up while their new building was being renovated, but that plan came crumbling down in recent weeks upon the discovery that the new structure was too contaminated to move in.

By the end of May, the shelter had to close its doors, with nowhere to go as it scrambled to find a new space.

“Despite our sustained efforts and the support of the Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough …