Hôtel-Dieu – Montreal

“A concrete example of inclusivity in the built environment is the repurposing of Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal to provide shelter for unhoused community members. Founded in 1645, Hôtel-Dieu was the first hospital established in Montreal and functioned as an active hospital until 2017. Over the Covid-19 pandemic, it served as test and treatment site and in July 2021, Le Royer Pavilion of Hôtel-Dieu was adapted and repurposed to serve as a 24/7 shelter space. The opening of Hôtel-Dieu coincided with the closure of Place Dupuis, a downtown hotel which operated as an emergency shelter during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hôtel-Dieu is operated by the Old Brewery Mission and Welcome Hall Mission in partnership with a local board of health and the CHUM super hospital. In addition to providing shelter, the goal of Hôtel-Dieu is to help residents connect to long-term housing through rent subsidies and other programs. Hôtel-Dieu features 186 beds over six floors. Each room has two beds and a shared bathroom with showers. Residents can keep their belongings secure in their room which contributes to a sense of belonging and ownership of the space. In addition, Hôtel-Dieu is more inclusive than traditional shelters because it can accommodate couples as well as pets so that families can stay together. Since many residents are facing complex health issues including addiction and mental illness, there is extra support with three employees per floor who work on the site permanently.

While the shelter staff at Hôtel-Dieu strive to create a dignified space for the unhoused community, there are still conflicts between housed and unhoused residents, especially around the use of public space. Although more resources are needed to help people work through mental health and addiction issues, more communication can be fostered in the neighbourhood to come up with community solutions to address spatial conflicts. One way staff at Hôtel-Dieu attempted to address conflict over the use of public space is by providing outdoor space on site for unhoused residents. Equipped with a small tent and a few tables, the space is always full, illustrating the importance of space for unhoused people to socialize, connect, and just be. The adaptive reuse of Hôtel-Dieu from hospital to emergency shelter honors its original purpose as a space for care. While providing shelter for unhoused residents is of upmost importance, Hôtel-Dieu also provides unhoused community members with a space of their own where they can feel secure and included.” (Booklet Positive Lived Experiences of Quality in the Built Environment 2023, p.6).

Image of Hôtel-Dieu, by Cara Chellew.