The city’s first supervised drug inhalation and injection site, which opened last month to some controversy, is temporarily reducing its 24/7 services due to a lack of manpower.
The Maison Benoît-Labre, on Greene Avenue in Saint-Henri, says it is reducing the services of its respite drop-in and spontaneous care drop-ins “out of concern to offer adequate essential services” and because it is faced with “increased pressures and growing needs.”
Full service will resume Monday, the organization said in a Facebook post. The school corridor responder service, the brigades and resident support will not be interrupted.
Until regular service resumes, the Maison Benoît-Labre plans to train and integrate new recruits. The organization adds security guards will be deployed until June 21.
“We will continue our collaboration with the CIUSS and other stakeholders in the sector to ensure the sustainability of services and its integration in the sector,” added Maison Benoît-Labre.
Maison Benoît-Labre, which also has 36 housing units for people experiencing homelessness, opened to heavy criticism on April 15 due to its proximity to a school.
Parents with children at the nearby Victor-Rousselot elementary school have repeatedly voiced their concerns.