Welcome and support services
Created in 1931, the YMCA Residence promotes social cohesion and the inclusion of some of the most vulnerable members of our society by providing short-term housing for refugees and asylum seekers.
The Residence provides a multitude of services and activities to welcome and support its clients, with the collaboration of PRAIDA, a regional program for the accommodation and integration of asylum seekers managed by the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) of West-Central Montreal.
These clients are referred by PRAIDA and the accommodation is not open to the public.
Short-Term Housing Program for Asylum Seekers
Housing service
The YMCA Residence provides housing to asylum seekers with the collaboration of PRAIDA, a regional program for the accommodation and integration of asylum seekers managed by the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) of West-Central Montreal. The PRAIDA-YMCA Day Centre for Asylum Seekers also offers a variety of community services and activities to welcome and support resident and non-resident asylum seekers, including:
- French and English conversation workshops;
- workshops on housing, immigration, job search, financial assistance or health;
- information sessions with Montreal's Public Safety Commission and discussions with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR);
- a women’s group helping participants to break out of their isolation and empowering them through weekly meetings and activities such as arts, crafts and communal cooking;
- family activities;
- psychosocial support services.
Community Initiatives of the YMCA Residence
In addition to offering a variety of community services and activities to resident and non-resident asylum seekers through the PRAIDA-YMCA Day Centre, the Residence’s community initiatives team also ensures the well-being of all of its residents by providing the following services:
- an emergency locker room;
- a food bank for the benefit of asylum seekers;
- a family room with a number of fun activities for children and parents;
- social and cultural outings that foster the social integration of residents and help them become more familiar with Montreal.