Saint-Jérôme | Unite to break the taboo

At the end of 2022, nothing is going well in terms of homelessness in Saint-Jérôme. Needs explode to the point where resources, unable to meet demand, end up harming each other. The crisis is such that it forces everyone to break the mold. Story of a small revolution which produced beautiful results.

In the fall of 2022, the City of Saint-Jérôme prohibited the construction of temporary shelters and the installation of tents, a regulation contested by the Traveling Legal Clinic and which is currently before the courts. Since then, the City has modified its regulations to allow tents in a specific space, at night only.

That said, the approach adopted in the MRC Rivière-du-Nord, and more particularly in Saint-Jérôme, is cited as an example.

“Under the previous administration, it was impossible to pronounce the word “homelessness”, it was taboo,” explained Louis Rousseau, director of mental health, addiction and general psychosocial services programs for adults at the CISSS des Laurentides. Mr. Rousseau was one of four speakers invited to speak as part of the Estates General on homelessness which took place in Quebec at the end of November. He and his colleagues explained the approach of this city in the Laurentians to deal with the crisis, an approach based on intersectionality.

In 2018, Saint-Jérôme had 168 people experiencing homelessness. Four years later, this number had increased to 434. However, the existing community groups were overwhelmed by the situation.

Squats, fires, drugs, pimping… Residents no longer felt safe and the City was under pressure. With more than 200 police interventions per month, the status quo was no longer possible. “It was anarchy,” observes Sylvain Pagé, assistant to the general director – Strategies at the City of Saint-Jérôme.

Little miracles

In December 2021, the CISSS communicated with La Hutte, a community organization based in Terrebonne. “We called on their expertise to support existing community groups,” explains Louis Rousseau.

Ultimately, it was La Hutte who took over and did in a few weeks what normally takes years: building a new resource.

To mobilize the Saint-Jérôme community, it was necessary to generate support. “We therefore invited everyone – prefect, business community, elected officials, etc., to visit La Hutte in Terrebonne to understand how it worked,” says the organization’s general director, François Savoie.

To build a new roaming resource with 56 places, with services, it was necessary to raise 7 million. “When we signed the contract with the contractor, we didn’t have a penny,” remembers Louis Rousseau, from the CISSS, with a laugh.

The Caisse populaire is contributing $1.2 million, the largest donation in the history of the Laurentians. Another small miracle: the permit is issued within six months, an unthinkable delay in normal times. “The support of senior management allows many problems to be resolved,” notes Sylvain Pagé.

The stakeholders meet every Tuesday morning to plan and coordinate the project and iron out obstacles. The key: working together around the same objective. At the same time, the City is intensifying communication with the population, affirms Sylvain Pagé. “We went door to door, we informed people as the project evolved. »

“The crisis was an opportunity, because it forced us to mobilize,” says Louis Rousseau, of the CISSS. If things go badly, so much the better! This is an opportunity for change. »

“Not perfect, but much better”

This crisis will also have forced stakeholders to organize services differently on the ground. “At the CISSS, we separated the resources devoted to homelessness from those for dependency and we formed the Hope team. Doctors and psychiatrists work in the streets, which was unthinkable before,” assures Louis Rousseau.

This team collaborates with the PACIFIC squad made up of four agents and a sergeant who also work in the field.

Of course, not everything is settled. Still, residents of Saint-Jérôme see people getting through it.

“Questions about homelessness have become extremely rare at city council meetings,” observes Sylvain Pagé. It’s not perfect, but it’s much better. »

We can say that the expertise of François Savoie, general director of La Hutte, counted for a lot. Former manager of the CIUSSS de Lanaudière, he has led the community organization for six years. “I was the one who gave and asked for money,” notes the man who has been working homeless for 30 years.

“Trust is at the heart of this model,” says Louis Rousseau. We work in gangs and today, we can say that the situation is reversed. It’s the City that asks La Hutte: so, what are your upcoming projects? »