Bell Let's Talk joins with the City of Montréal in $100,000 partnership for the homeless

Bell Let's Talk joins with the City of Montréal in $100,000 partnership for the homeless


-- Bell Let's Talk donates $80,000 for mental health programs at Chez
Doris, Old Brewery Mission and Refuge des Jeunes de Montréal
-- City of Montréal donates $20,000 to provide shuttle service for the
homeless
MONTRÉAL, Dec. 8, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell Let's Talk and the City of Montréal today announced donations totalling $100,000 to 3 Montréal organizations - Chez Doris, the Old Brewery Mission and Refuge des Jeunes - to provide much-needed services for Montréal's homeless population. The donations include $80,000 from Bell Let's Talk and $20,000 from the City of Montréal. The Bell Let's Talk funding will be used to improve and enhance access to mental health services for homeless people in Montréal.

"Bell Let's Talk is very pleased to partner with the City of Montréal to help support and fund innovative mental health services for Montréal's homeless population," said Charles Benoit, President, Television and Radio at Bell Media. "The programs offered by Chez Doris, The Old Brewery Mission and Refuge des Jeunes are making a significant difference in the lives of the many homeless people in Montréal living with mental illness."

The City of Montréal's donation will fund a new shuttle for homeless people every day from 3 - 6 pm when day services for the homeless close. The bus, provided by the Old Brewery Mission, will travel between seven shelters for men and women in Montréal. A social services counsellor will accompany the driver to provide additional support for the passengers.

"We appreciate Bell's contribution to support mental health services in our city," said Monique Vallée, Montréal's city councillor in charge of social and community development and homelessness. "Given that many homeless people suffer from mental illness, this donation to the three shelters is all the more important. The City of Montréal is proud to be Bell's partner in this wonderful initiative."

Also taking part in today's announcement was Québec's Minister Responsible for Rehabilitation, Youth Protection and Public Health, Lucie Charlebois. "After the launch of the new interdepartmental action plan against homelessness, it's a great pleasure to participate in this generous announcement. The challenges in providing effective interventions with people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness are numerous. That's why it always warms my heart to see people come together to offer help better suited to their diverse needs," said Ms. Charlebois.

Chez Doris, Old Brewery Mission and Refuge des Jeunes de Montréal expand services

"We are thrilled that Chez Doris will benefit from a generous donation of $25,000, and we are grateful to Bell Let's Talk for their support," said Marina Boulos-Winton, Chez Doris's Interim Executive Director. "This donation will allow our day shelter to hire a part-time psychiatric nurse who will provide individual and group therapy sessions as well as facilitate coaching workshops for our staff, so they can better help women with mental health problems who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless."

Marie Claire Morin, Executive Director at the Old Brewery Mission Foundation added, "The Old Brewery Mission Foundation is very pleased to receive $25,000 from Bell Let's Talk, which will help the Mission put the necessary resources in place for its PRISM (Projet réaffiliation en itinérance et santé mentale) pilot project. The project has already assessed 46 people with serious and persistent mental health disorders. In just five months, 59% of the people accepted for follow-up left the Mission on their own, in a structured manner. We are proud of the program's success and the Mission is happy that it will be accessible to more homeless people suffering from mental health disorders."

"Refuge des Jeunes appreciates receiving $30,000 from Bell Let's Talk to support young homeless people who struggle with high psychological distress," said France Labelle, Executive Director at Refuge des Jeunes de Montréal. "We welcome our new partner, who will help us to remember those who are less fortunate."

About Bell Let's Talk
The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns, like Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk and Bell Let's Talk Day, and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research, and workplace initiatives. Since its launch in 2010, Bell Let's Talk has committed more than $67.5 million to mental health programs in all parts of Canada. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

About Bell
Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and business customers with leading TV, Internet, wireless, home phone and business communications solutions. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital media. Bell is wholly owned by Montréal's BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For more information, please visit Bell.ca.

About Chez Doris
Founded in 1977, Chez Doris is a day shelter that offers women in need social, educational and recreational services in a welcoming environment. Its drop-in program is a safe haven for up to 100 women every day who live in poverty, are homeless, and are suffering from mental illness and addiction, helping them cope with loneliness, isolation and depression, and offering programs that respond to their immediate needs. Chez Doris is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. It offers the following services: breakfast and lunch, emergency food bags, six respite beds, childcare, financial administration program, Inuit assistance program, physical and mental health services, food aid program, legal services, and educational and socio-recreational programs. From April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014, we welcomed 25,856 visitors (up 5.7% from fiscal year 2013), served 40,545 meals (up 9.5%) and received 6,147 requests for information and referrals (up 6.7%).

About the Foundation and the Old Brewery Mission
The goal of the Old Brewery Mission Foundation is to raise funds for the Old Brewery Mission, the largest resource for homeless men in Québec and homeless women in Canada. Founded in 1889, the Old Brewery Mission helps homeless people to get off the streets by focusing on transition programs, adapted physical and mental health services, access to affordable housing, public awareness, and knowledge-building, as well as providing life-saving emergency services to over 4,000 homeless people in Montréal each year.

About Refuge des Jeunes de Montréal
Founded in 1989, Refuge des Jeunes de Montréal is a youth shelter that offers day, evening and night services. Our mission is to provide assistance to young homeless men aged 17 to 25 facing difficulties, suffering from mental health problems or struggling with addiction. In the last 25 years, Refuge des Jeunes has hosted 18,653 young men and provided social housing (19 units) to more than 110 youths. These young people come from everywhere: Montréal, Québec, other Canadian provinces and even other countries. Refuge des Jeunes works toward their integration and strives to improve their living conditions.

Media inquiries
Marie-Eve Francoeur

Bell Media Relations

514 391-5263
marie-eve.francoeur@bell.ca
@Bell_News

Philippe Rousseau

Relationniste, Ville de Montréal

514-872-5012 philippe.rousseau@ville.montreal.qc.ca

Marina Boulos-Winton

Chez Doris

514 654-7597 director@chezdoris.ca

Mélissa Bellerose

Foundation and Old Brewery Mission

514 788-1884 poste 24

514 779-8188 MBellerose@oldbrewerymissionfoundation.ca

Marc Dorschner

Refuge des jeunes de Montréal

514 849-4221 marc.dorschner@refugedesjeunes.org



SOURCE Bell Canada

Bell Canada

Web Site: www.bell.ca


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