Sudden exit of employees at Montreal's bus terminal
In a surprising turn of events, Montreal's Premier Arrêt program, which has been a beacon of hope for the city's vulnerable population for over 25 years, has been abolished last Wednesday. The program, stationed at the city's bus station, aimed to prevent homelessness and sexual exploitation of young runaways by predators.
The decision to end the program was made following a discussion with funders and partners. Jean-Guy Poitras, a security guard at the station, appreciates the work of the program's interveners and finds their departure disappointing. "I could count on them to calm disorganized or crisis users and defuse situations," he recounts.
Geneviève Latour, a former employee of the Premier Arrêt program, denounces the "abrupt end" of the service without warning or transitional measures. She shares her concerns about the impact on the vulnerable people she used to support, thinking of two men who would come to talk to her every day to break their isolation and an elderly woman with whom she had managed to create a significant link.
Catherine Parent, director of operations for the Montreal-Centre territory, claims that the end of the fixed Premier Arrêt kiosk is not the end of the service itself, but a "transition" or "transformation." According to Ms. Parent, the program has been transformed to meet people on the street rather than having a fixed kiosk at the station due to a shift in behaviors among vulnerable people.
The YMCA, which runs the program, claims it is not an "end of service," but a "transformation" of the program. So far, Mr. Poitras hasn't had to use the emergency number, as homeless individuals seem to have left the station. However, the YMCA assures that there will be a "transition" with street workers from another YMCA program to ensure service continuity.
As the city gears up for the Grand Prix weekend, more than 200 people will be on duty to intervene in case of medical emergencies. Meanwhile, Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch that could produce heavy rain and wind gusts.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Premier Arrêt program's transformation, one thing is clear: the vulnerable individuals it aimed to help are in need of continued support and assistance.
The YMCA plans to adapt the Premier Arrêt program, shifting focus from a fixed kiosk to street outreach, citing changes in behavior among vulnerable individuals (transition). Jean-Guy Poitras, previously relying on the program's interveners to manage crises, now has concerns for the vulnerable people he used to support following the abrupt end of the service (health-and-wellness). The preventive efforts of the Premier Arrêt program, are crucial for French-speaking young runaways, often targets of predators (science, health-and-wellness).
