Achi news desk-
Less than two weeks after Montreal’s first safe-use site opened in the St. Henri neighborhood, some neighbors say co-housing has quickly become a concern.
Some residents say there is nudity, open-air drug use and excess items dumped outside Maison Benoit Labre, a safe-use site that also has 36 studio apartments.
“I’ve never seen it. It’s quiet here,” said one of the neighbors, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation.
According to her, when she asked the clients of the facility to go through the door of her building, she was pushed away.
“Every night there are screams, fights. I hear it,” she said.
The new neighbors left the residents divided.
“Well they have to live somewhere, so that’s good. At least it organizes them,” said St. Henry resident Emil Roba.
The home understands the neighbors’ concerns, said CEO Andreen Desiltz.
The main entrance on Atwater Avenue is scheduled to open Friday, and Desilts said she expects that will help ease tensions.
So far, customers have used the entrance on Green Avenue, which faces an apartment building and an elementary school.
“We’re still working out some kinks, but it won’t solve everything. Of course not, because this is Montreal, and it’s a reality that everyone goes through,” she said.
Government officials visited the safe drug use site on Friday to reassure local residents. Despite the difficult transition period, they said it was an important project.
“The safe use of drugs will keep people indoors instead of having them around the sites outside with children. So this is a positive addition,” said Lionel Clement, the minister responsible for social services in Quebec.
Carment said he expects the situation to improve in the coming days with the opening of the main entrance. The municipality said it will continue to work for a better shared life.
“There will be work done by the city of Montreal, so the situation will improve quite a bit,” said Benoît Durais, the mayor of the southwestern borough.
Maison Benoit Labre said it is also redoubling its efforts on the ground, with a cleaning crew and a neighborhood committee to address the concerns of people living nearby.
