A new, well-stocked emergency accommodation in Baie-Comeau

The Carrefour Jeunesse Manicouagan has been offering emergency accommodation to people in need for a month in Baie-Comeau. The organization notes that the community space is already very busy, and that it will be even more so as the mercury plummets.

Homeless people can come and warm up in this ten-person apartment. The community space includes a kitchen, living room, sleeping quarters, and even a small warehouse that's stocked with clothes, food, and other goods.

This is equipment that we were given for people, even for Carrefour users if they need warm clothing, but also summer clothing, responsible consumption equipment too.explains the director of Carrefour Jeunesse Manicouagan, Myreille Lalancette.

This accommodation replaces the heat stop installed by the organization last year. The traffic observed there convinced the organization to create a permanent shelter, the door of which is open winter and summer.

We know it was a need. There is a gap in services in Baie-Comeau, so to be able to offer temporary accommodation with the cold weather coming, we know that we are right at the right timeexplains Myreille Lalancette.

A bed and more

Users of the site can also receive support from the Carrefour intervention team, particularly in finding a permanent home.

It is also to work before they become homeless, and it is to work afterargues the psychosocial worker at Carrefour Jeunesse Manicouagan, Isabelle Huard.

The speaker has dreamed of having such a place in Baie-Comeau for a very long time. Hand in hand with Myreille Lalancette, she imagined this refuge to offer more than just a bed.

The one who has been a street worker for 18 years chose to name the space Between two doors in order to evoke the transition during which she supports people in need.

What we wanted was to be pampered [les personnes dans le besoin] A little. The integrity and the dignity when you go through that… you only need a little sketch to make it very profound.

A busy place

Accommodation was full for the first two weeks of opening. The instigators of the project believe, however, that the complementary offer in the region makes it possible to meet demand.

People have migrated to other resources. We have a little lull before the holiday season, but there are always people, always requests, always callstestifies Myreille Lalancette.

People of all ages can stop there for one or a few nights depending on their needs, at any time of the day.