The Women’s Y of Montreal is opening a new social housing building east of downtown. It’s called Residence-Elles and it offers a range of services to vulnerable women. The new building has common rooms and 96 units for women escaping violence, single mothers at risk and others in difficulty; all with different needs. “It’s very important to be able to develop and offer a housing model that was integrative, that allowed different women from all walks of life to cohabitate and support each other,” said YWCA Montreal housing director Diana Pizzuti. Units range from emergency shelter single rooms to large three-bedroom apartments for a mother with children to live in while getting back on their feet. “We are including women who are caregivers because being a caregiver puts you at risk for homelessness,” said Pizzuti. ”We wanted to provide a safe place and a stable place for women who are caregivers in their life and who need support.” Costing approximately $50 million, funding for Residence-Elles came from three levels of government, plus private donors and foundations. “Some of those women will be women who don’t need support,” said Pizzuti. ”So there is a portion of apartments that are for women just like you and I, looking for affordable, safe, decent housing. And then there’s another portion — 60 units — that will be with support for single women and women with families.” Counsellors will be on site 24/7 to provide various forms of support. “We’re looking to break that cycle of homelessness and couch surfing and provide people with a place of their own, a place that they can call their own,” said Pizzuti. Pizzuti knows it will be a safe space and life-changing for women at risk, who will start being welcomed before July 2026.
