Housing to help the homeless

Tashi Farmilo

A new transitional housing project called Mon Calme is moving forward in Gatineau’s Hull sector, with local non-profit Gîte Ami leading the development. The City of Gatineau has approved the donation of municipal land for the project, which will create 20 private rooms with shared living spaces and outdoor areas for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming unhoused. If construction and funding proceed as planned, the project is expected to open in 2027.

Located between rue Marie-Le Franc and rue Morin, the future site will offer more than just shelter. Residents will have access to psychosocial support, help finding long-term housing, and assistance navigating social services. The project is being developed under the provincial Programme d’habitation abordable du Québec, which supports affordable and social housing across the province.

Gîte Ami, a well-established non-profit that has been addressing homelessness in the region for more than 40 years, will oversee the project and operate the facility once it opens. Though they are not managing the construction directly, they are coordinating the initiative in collaboration with housing development partners such as GRT-Innovation Habitation Outaouais. Financial support has also come from Desjardins, Brigil, and Les Immeubles Desmarais.

During the inauguration of the intervention block at Village Transitiôn on January 22, Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette pointed to Mon Calme as a model of what can be achieved through collaboration. “Projects like Mon Calme are concrete examples of what can be achieved when cities, non-profits, and private groups collaborate with shared purpose,” she said.

City councillor Steve Moran also praised the initiative. “This is excellent news and a concrete project to respond to the homelessness crisis that plagues Gatineau,” he said. “It continues the sustained work led by the City, the Gîte and all our partners.”

The land transfer includes legal protections to ensure the project moves ahead. If Gîte Ami is unable to follow through, the land reverts to the city. Council has also removed the site’s public-use designation to allow development to proceed.

Gîte Ami first submitted its request for the land in 2021. Since then, a local fundraising campaign and community partnerships have helped move the project forward. Once complete, Mon Calme will give 20 people at a time more than a roof: it will offer stability, dignity, and a chance to regain control over their lives.