Crisis centre forced to shut doors amid funding collapse

Tashi Farmilo

The Centre d’aide 24/7 in Gatineau is suspending its crisis intervention and residential services this month after exhausting its operational funding. The organization confirmed it will stop accepting new residential admissions as of December 15 and will fully close its crisis and housing services on December 19 at 4:00 pm.

In an official notice, the centre stated that the closure stems from the absence of a renewed service agreement. “Despite our active efforts to finalize a service agreement that expired on September 30, with the relevant authorities — an agreement which remains unresolved — we are forced to activate our contingency plan,” said Mackendy Alcius Gaty, liaison officer for the Centre d’aide 24/7.

The organization clarified that the December 19 deadline was not chosen for strategic reasons. “It is strictly the result of the complete exhaustion of our funds, which have been stretched to the maximum in order to maintain services for as long as possible while hoping to reach an agreement.”

To protect individuals still housed at the time of closure, the centre has laid out a transition plan. “Telephone support lines will be transferred to 811 (Info-Social),” said Gaty. “Any resident in need of immediate intervention after December 19 will be directed to the Hull Hospital emergency room, in accordance with our intervention protocol.”

The Centre d’aide 24/7 has served the Outaouais region for nearly four decades, offering 24/7 crisis support and short-term accommodation to people in psychological distress. Its closure comes at a time of year often marked by increased mental health needs, particularly during the holiday season.

Local mental health networks have raised concerns about the impact this shutdown could have on the region’s already limited resources. The Regroupement des organismes communautaires en santé mentale de l’Outaouais has warned that the loss of this service will place immediate pressure on other organizations, many of which do not provide in-person, around-the-clock support.

Although provincial services such as Info-Social 811 and community lines like Tel-Aide Outaouais remain in operation, they are not designed to replace the in-person crisis shelter and walk-in services the centre provided.

“We remain fully mobilized and hopeful that a favourable outcome will allow us to return to normal operations as soon as possible,” said Gaty.