New mobile health clinic hopes to bridge gap in services for unhoused Montrealers
Global News
In addition to medical services, a new mobile unit making rounds in Montreal will offer help for things like getting identification cards, health cards and preparing taxes.
A new mobile health clinic will soon be doing the rounds in Montreal, targeting areas frequented by people experiencing homelessness.
“We have an obvious need to fill in terms of bringing direct health services, psychosocial services, housing services to people living in the street and organizations where there aren’t these services,” said James Hughes, president and CEO of the Old Brewery Mission.
It’s a new initiative by Telus Health in partnership with The Old Brewery Mission and Accueil Bonneau and with the participation of McGill University’s Ingram School of Nursing and the Mobile Legal Clinic.
The idea is to bring services directly to those who need them.
“This is designed to go where homeless people are,” Hughes said.
While estimates indicate there are 4,000 unhoused Montrealers, Hughes believes the actual number is much higher — as much as three times higher.
And while the Old Brewery Mission already offers a variety of services onsite, not everyone is eligible or comfortable getting help at a shelter.
“Because of medical conditions, because of addictions, because of pets, because of other types of behaviours, it’s tough for them to come into facilities so they stay outside,” Hughes explained.