In light of the cold snap that will hit Montreal this weekend, the city has decided to open a temporary emergency room for people affected by homelessness at the YMCA Centre-Ville.
The temperature is expected to feel like -26 degrees Celsius overnight from Friday to Saturday, raising fears for the worst for the homeless.
As with the last cold snap a few weeks ago, the city then decided to open a temporary location from Friday 5 p.m. to Monday morning 9 a.m.
“This place, which can accommodate 80 people, will benefit from the presence of stakeholders, as well as from security forces hired by the agglomeration, who will ensure proper operation,” he said.
The city recalled that 1,600 places in emergency shelters and heat breaks are available in Montreal this winter. According to organizations that help the homeless, the vast majority of places are already occupied almost permanently.
Montreal Police and members of the Social Intervention Mobile Mediation Team (ÉMMIS) will also be conducting a vigil in the streets.