Day Center

Humanizing the practices.

The Benedict Labre House is more than a place with services offered...

It is a place where respect and comfort are also important to offer.

The Day Centre serves as the focal point of the House. Service users come here to rest, participate in art workshops, engage in various activities, surf the Internet, or simply socialize. Two meals a day are provided. It is a space of respect where everyone is free to be who they want to be, ensuring complete safety. The day center enables individuals to establish connections with their peers and social workers, take positive steps, and overcome isolation.

We’re now open 24/7 !

The day center is a place of unconditional welcome where everyone is free to be themselves. We provide a space for individuals to find or rediscover social connections, whether with social workers, fellow visitors, or to reconnect with their families and friends. Social workers play a dual role: collective and individual. They maintain a benevolent and secure atmosphere throughout the day, accompanying individuals in breaking social isolation and guiding them in specific steps and referrals to external partners.
In the fall of 2020, we introduced a new service - the distribution of STI prevention materials. We take pride in offering this service to our users, enabling those who choose to engage in safe sex practices. Beyond providing prevention materials, we offer information on safe drug use and ways to minimize health risks. Additionally, we serve as a distribution point for naloxone, an antidote to opioid overdoses. In response to the fentanyl crisis, we distributed fentanyl tests to mitigate overdose risks in our community.
Furthermore, we actively collect used needles from our visitors to prevent reuse. We strongly encourage users to obtain the necessary equipment for maintaining their physical health. To better address prevention needs, we've adapted our staff, now featuring two full-time specialists in Substance Abuse and Addiction
Five days a week we offer two meals to our visitors. They can enjoy their meal on site or take it home. Our cooks prepare these meals with love. Sometimes, when we are lucky, partners come and deliver meals already packed and ready to be eaten.
Visitors can access daily dry and washed clothes through our changing room, including underwear, boots, a coat, and everyday clothing—all provided free of charge. This crucial service is made possible by the generous donations from our community.
Since 2020, we have introduced a new daily shower service, providing our customers with access to hygiene products at any time. All our services are offered free of charge. Recognizing the essential role of showers in the well-being of our homeless population, we understand the challenges they face in accessing facilities for personal hygiene, which significantly impacts their dignity. We are pleased to contribute to empowering them in maintaining their physical health.
We currently have two full-time positions available (30 hours/week) to support individuals in transitioning to the workforce. Participants undergo training in the kitchen and/or housekeeping, gaining valuable and recognized work experience. This program provides an excellent learning opportunity, allowing for skill development and fostering a teamwork environment that makes sense for individuals aiming to reintegrate into the labor market. All activities are conducted under the careful attention and supervision of the workers at the center.

Our little extras at the Day Center

We are fortunate to have the services of a barber every week. The service allow visitors to have their hair cut or their beard shaved. This service is greatly requested by the visitors.

Our team makes sure to offer the maximum pleasure to our visitors so that they live a comfortable and unique experience under our roof. That's why we occasionally hold bingo days. We also offer our guests the possibility to participate in outings such as the sugar shack or apple picking. In fact, just before the holidays, we have a special meal in a festive atmosphere.

Since 2015, we have continued our collaboration with Doctors of the World to provide our visitors with access to psychological support services. They also come several times throughout the year with their Mobile Clinic to provide health care services, as well as to provide vaccines.

The users' committee was created in 2015 to offer users of our services a way to express themselves and a concrete way to become involved in the day-to-day running of the Maison. During the bi-monthly meetings, we discuss the services offered, partnerships, activities and the general functioning of our organization. Participants are encouraged to share their ideas and suggestions, thus giving them a greater sense of autonomy and allowing an equal opportunity to all who wish to contribute to the common life of the Benedict Labre House.

With the collaboration of McGill University and Solidarité St-Henri, we were able to create a new community garden on Notre-Dame Street O. We built the project by creating four wooden boxes that we painted with the help of our users. Afterwards, we were able to plant herbs and tomatoes for our new neighbours to enjoy.