The SHDM is proud to inaugurate the Pavillon Robert-Lemaire today, in the presence of the Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec, the City of Montreal, and Maison du Père. This new building, consisting of 54 studios, provides housing for men who face housing insecurity or homelessness.

Since December 1, the new units on Atateken Street in the borough of Ville-Marie have been welcoming at-risk men independent enough to live in a community setting with reduced supervision. This safe, modern living environment is adapted to the needs of its tenants and has a day staff of social workers. Designed around an interior courtyard with a separate entrance for each apartment, the project will help residents become more independent while a providing a foundation of social support as well as a common room for getting together.

This $13-million project was made possible thanks to support from the City of Montréal and close to $5 million in funding from the Government of Canada provided through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) as part of the Canada–Quebec Agreement on the first round of the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI), Major Cities stream, along with direct SHDM funding of over $5 million. In addition, through a grant from the Major Residential Renovation Program, the City of Montréal and the Government of Quebec each contributed $1.2 million. Finally, the Government of Quebec is also allocating 54 rent supplements so that residents will spend no more than 25% of their income on housing.

The SHDM will continue to own the building, which will be managed by Maison du Père.

"The Société d'habitation et de développement de Montréal is proud of its work in coordinating and delivering this project. It's a concrete example of how we contribute to the development of innovative, long-term ways to sustainably house the most vulnerable among us. But none of it could have happened without the cooperation of all the partners laying the foundations so that 54 men, in insecure situations or homeless, can sign a lease for the first time and receive support from Maison du Père."
Sophie Rousseau-Loiselle, Managing Director, SHDM

Pavillon Robert-Lemaire at a glance:

-  1824 Atateken Street, borough of Ville-Marie
-  54 bachelor apartments for men experiencing homeless or housing insecurity
-  Owner: SHDM
-  Managing organization: Maison du Père
-  Budget: $13 million | Funding: SHDM, CMHC and City of Montréal
-  Architecture:
        Design: Atelier Pierre Thibault
        Final design and delivery: 2Architectures (Louis-Paul Lemieux and Mounir Chabounia)
-  Structural engineering: MLC Associés
-  Mechanical engineering and electricity: AGM Génie Solutions
-  Contractor: Blenda

To see the press release

Photo credit: Sylvain Légaré 

From left to right: Mrs. Sophie Rousseau-Loiselle, Managing Director of SHDM, Mr. Robert Beaudry, elected representative of the Ville-Marie district and responsible for urban planning in the executive committee of the City of Montreal, Mrs. Jaëlle Begarin, President and CEO of Maison du Père, Mrs. Chantale Jeannotte, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Labelle and parliamentary assistant to the Minister responsible for Housing, Mr. Louis Diabo, resident, Mrs. Joséfina Blanco, responsible for diversity, social inclusion, and homelessness in the executive committee of the City of Montreal, The Honorable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Member of Parliament for Laurier-Sainte-Marie, Mr. Benoît Dorais, responsible for housing and Vice-President of the executive committee of the City of Montreal.