The province's waiting list for a bridge resource position continues to grow. The Association of Intermediate Accommodation Resources of Quebec (ARIHQ) is sounding the alarm and condemning the administrative obstacles that prevent the opening of new accommodation sites.
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“We are currently hosting 20,000 people and our 20,000 places are almost full,” ARIHQ CEO Manon Charpentier said on LCN on Sunday.
“But what happens is that because people live there for such a long time, there are very few available places,” she added.
An intermediate resource refers to a housing environment designed for people with partial autonomy – whether older adults, people with an intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder or mental health problems – and who need daily support.
Mto me Charpentier wanted to emphasize that this is not a temporary habitat, quite the contrary.
“This is truly an environment that people will live in for many, many years. So this is a clientele that is referred to us directly by the institutions, CISSS and CIUSSS, and we will definitely offer them a supportive environment,” he said. [les] services and a decent environment in which they will spend many years,” she explained.
5,500 vulnerable people are currently waiting for a place in intermediate resources and, according to Manon Charpentier, new living conditions must be opened up to accommodate them if demand is to be met.
However, the problem persists: Since 2020, more than 70% of tenders issued by the state network to open new locations have been cancelled, representing more than 4,000 lost seats that could have shortened the waiting list, according to ARIHQ.
The need certainly exists, but restrictions make it difficult to open and operate new intermediate housing units.
“Firstly, the deadlines are very tight for what we are asked to build or once again open resources. The requirements are really very high. And also financially, but this is not viable,” M. explained.to me Charpentier.
She calls on the government to recognize the scale of the need for this type of accommodation, which she calls “egregious”.
“We are not just the only solution, we are part of the solution,” she added.
To watch the full interview, click on the video above.
