Chez Soi project dismantled by P.Q.

Quebec is planning to dismantle the five-year At Home/Chez Soi program in Montreal

According to the Montreal Gazette, Quebec is dropping the $18.4 million federal project because health falls under provincial jurisdiction.

Several sources claim that the province had no say in how this project was set up or run.

Chez Soi is program that aims to help homeless people manage mental health problems by giving them a stable place to live.

Quebec health officials, however, say that the project is not going to be immediately dissolved.

Participants can still expect a monthly supplement toward their rent for one year.

Advocates working with the homeless say problems have already begun.

Participants started leaving their apartments in the fall after hearing rumours about the project’s end.

Chez Soi housed and was caring for about 230 clients in July. Last week the numbers have dropped to 160.

The Mental Health and social Services Agency is now handling the transition from chez soi’s mental health teams to service provided by programs in CSSS community health Clinics.

Marc Boutin, coordinator of mental health services at the Montreal agency, says their goal is to make sure that no one ends up on the street because of the end of Chez Soi.

A final decision on the program’s status has yet to be made.

STORY WRITTEN BY: JENNA MONNEY-LUPERT