- Bell Let's Talk donates $80,000
for mental health programs at Chez Doris, Old Brewery Mission and
Refuge des Jeunes de Montréal
- City of Montréal donates $20,000
to provide shuttle service for the homeless
MONTRÉAL, Dec. 8, 2014 /CNW
Telbec/ - Bell Let's Talk and the City of Montréal today
announced donations totalling $100,000 to 3 Montréal organizations – Chez
Doris, the Old Brewery Mission and Refuge des Jeunes – to provide
much-needed services for Montréal's homeless population. The
donations include $80,000 from Bell
Let's Talk and $20,000 from the City
of Montréal. The Bell Let's Talk funding will be used to improve
and enhance access to mental health services for homeless people in
Montréal.
"Bell Let's Talk is very pleased to partner with the City of
Montréal to help support and fund innovative mental health services
for Montréal's homeless population," said Charles Benoit,
President, Television and Radio at Bell Media. "The programs
offered by Chez Doris, The Old Brewery Mission and Refuge des
Jeunes are making a significant difference in the lives of the many
homeless people in Montréal living with mental illness."
The City of Montréal's donation will fund a new shuttle for
homeless people every day from 3 – 6
pm when day services for the homeless close. The bus,
provided by the Old Brewery Mission, will travel between seven
shelters for men and women in Montréal. A social services
counsellor will accompany the driver to provide additional support
for the passengers.
"We appreciate Bell's contribution to support mental health
services in our city," said Monique Vallée, Montréal's city
councillor in charge of social and community development and
homelessness. "Given that many homeless people suffer from mental
illness, this donation to the three shelters is all the more
important. The City of Montréal is proud to be Bell's partner in
this wonderful initiative."
Also taking part in today's announcement was Québec's Minister
Responsible for Rehabilitation, Youth Protection and Public Health,
Lucie Charlebois. "After the launch
of the new interdepartmental action plan against homelessness, it's
a great pleasure to participate in this generous announcement. The
challenges in providing effective interventions with
people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness are numerous.
That's why it always warms my heart to see people come together to
offer help better suited to their diverse needs," said Ms.
Charlebois.
Chez Doris, Old Brewery Mission and Refuge des Jeunes de
Montréal expand services
"We are thrilled that Chez Doris will benefit from a generous
donation of $25,000, and we are
grateful to Bell Let's Talk for their support," said
Marina Boulos-Winton, Chez Doris's Interim Executive Director.
"This donation will allow our day shelter to hire a part-time
psychiatric nurse who will provide individual and group therapy
sessions as well as facilitate coaching workshops for our staff, so
they can better help women with mental health problems who are
homeless or at risk of becoming homeless."
Marie Claire Morin, Executive
Director at the Old Brewery Mission Foundation added, "The Old
Brewery Mission Foundation is very pleased to receive $25,000 from Bell Let's Talk, which will help the
Mission put the necessary resources in place for its PRISM (Projet
réaffiliation en itinérance et santé mentale) pilot project. The
project has already assessed 46 people with serious and
persistent mental health disorders. In just five months, 59%
of the people accepted for follow-up left the Mission on their own,
in a structured manner. We are proud of the program's success and
the Mission is happy that it will be accessible to more homeless
people suffering from mental health disorders."
"Refuge des Jeunes appreciates receiving $30,000 from Bell Let's Talk to support young
homeless people who struggle with high psychological distress,"
said France Labelle, Executive
Director at Refuge des Jeunes de Montréal. "We welcome our new
partner, who will help us to remember those who are less
fortunate."
About Bell Let's Talk
The Bell Let's Talk
initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness
and anti-stigma campaigns, like Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's
Talk and Bell Let's Talk Day, and significant Bell funding of
community care and access, research, and workplace initiatives.
Since its launch in 2010, Bell Let's Talk has committed more than
$67.5 million to mental health
programs in all parts of Canada. To learn more, please visit
Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
About Bell
Bell is Canada's largest communications
company, providing consumers and business customers with leading
TV, Internet, wireless, home phone and business communications
solutions. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with
leading assets in television, radio and digital media. Bell is
wholly owned by Montréal's BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For more
information, please visit Bell.ca.
About Chez Doris
Founded in 1977, Chez Doris is a day
shelter that offers women in need social, educational and
recreational services in a welcoming environment. Its drop-in
program is a safe haven for up to 100 women every day who live
in poverty, are homeless, and are suffering from mental illness and
addiction, helping them cope with loneliness, isolation and
depression, and offering programs that respond to their immediate
needs. Chez Doris is open Monday to Friday from
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. It offers the following
services: breakfast and lunch, emergency food bags,
six respite beds, childcare, financial administration program,
Inuit assistance program, physical and mental health services, food
aid program, legal services, and educational and socio-recreational
programs. From April 1, 2013 to
March 31, 2014, we welcomed 25,856 visitors (up 5.7%
from fiscal year 2013), served 40,545 meals (up 9.5%) and received
6,147 requests for information and referrals (up 6.7%).
About the Foundation and the Old Brewery Mission
The
goal of the Old Brewery Mission Foundation is to raise funds for
the Old Brewery Mission, the largest resource for homeless men in
Québec and homeless women in Canada. Founded in 1889, the Old Brewery
Mission helps homeless people to get off the streets by focusing on
transition programs, adapted physical and mental health services,
access to affordable housing, public awareness, and
knowledge-building, as well as providing life-saving emergency
services to over 4,000 homeless people in Montréal each
year.
About Refuge des Jeunes de Montréal
Founded in 1989,
Refuge des Jeunes de Montréal is a youth shelter that offers day,
evening and night services. Our mission is to provide assistance to
young homeless men aged 17 to 25 facing difficulties, suffering
from mental health problems or struggling with addiction. In the
last 25 years, Refuge des Jeunes has hosted 18,653 young
men and provided social housing (19 units) to more than
110 youths. These young people come from everywhere: Montréal,
Québec, other Canadian provinces and even other countries. Refuge
des Jeunes works toward their integration and strives to improve
their living conditions.
Media inquiries
Marie-Eve
Francoeur
Bell Media Relations
514 391-5263
marie-eve.francoeur@bell.ca
@Bell_News
Philippe Rousseau
Relationniste, Ville de Montréal
514-872-5012 philippe.rousseau@ville.montreal.qc.ca
Marina Boulos-Winton
Chez Doris
514 654-7597 director@chezdoris.ca
Mélissa Bellerose
Foundation and Old Brewery Mission
514 788-1884 poste 24
514 779-8188
MBellerose@oldbrewerymissionfoundation.ca
Marc Dorschner
Refuge des jeunes de Montréal
514 849-4221 marc.dorschner@refugedesjeunes.org
SOURCE Bell Canada