Old Brewery Mission unveils the name of its new rehousing facility for seniors in Saint-Michel

Construction of the building, which will eventually house 27 people aged over 50 and be fully adapted for people with reduced mobility, began in July 2023. Like the Old Brewery Mission’s other rehousing facilities, the Mirella and Lino Saputo Pavilion will have community gardens, organized activities and a supportive housing team to promote housing stability. These services are made possible by a generous donation from the Mirella and Lino Saputo Foundation, a valued partner of the Old Brewery Mission.

The donation from the Mirella and Lino Saputo Foundation was also used to launch the Ancrâge prevention program for seniors in the fall of 2024.

These projects are being developed to address an alarming situation: people aged 50 and over make up the largest segment (44%) of Montreal’s homeless population.1

“The Old Brewery Mission is pleased to be able to offer permanent housing to 27 seniors in need, some of whom are experiencing their first episode of homelessness as they enter old age,” says James Hughes, President and CEO of the Old Brewery Mission. “The important thing is to keep these people from becoming homeless in the first place. Living on the street, they age prematurely. Then it takes them much more effort to find housing and they are more likely to remain homeless.” It is because of the premature aging that people experiencing homelessness are considered seniors from the age of 50.

Expanding services on the Island of Montreal

To respond to the housing crisis effectively and with foresight, the Old Brewery Mission is increasing its housing stock in all parts of the city of Montreal. This is important because homelessness has spread well beyond the central boroughs.

The Old Brewery Mission has participated in several roundtables in Saint-Michel borough to promote smooth integration of its clients into the neighbourhood, and has built the new facility in a central location close to services to best serve its future residents.

The construction of this building was made possible notably through the financial support of the Société d’habitation du Québec (AccèsLogis program) and the City of Montreal.

Ongoing support for seniors

The Mirella and Lino Saputo Foundation is maintaining its support for the Old Brewery Mission and seniors in particular: “We are proud to continue contributing to the well-being of vulnerable seniors, in collaboration with the Old Brewery Mission,” says Mirella Saputo, President of the Mirella and Lino Saputo Foundation. “The creation of a facility of this scale in a neighbourhood close to us is particularly significant. By joining our efforts, we can transform our community and offer these people a stable home and adapted services, allowing them to regain their dignity and security.”

The new building is part of a major expansion of the Old Brewery Mission’s housing stock as it invests more than ever in sustainable affordable housing solutions to break the cycle of homelessness in Montreal. The Old Brewery Mission owns and manages 165 units and is aiming to increase this to 500 units by 2028, making it one of the largest managers of community housing for people who have experienced or are at risk of homelessness. In 2023-2024, 462 people used its supportive housing services and 192 of them moved into housing.

Short documentary

The Old Brewery Mission is also launching A Home to Age with Dignity, a short documentary produced in collaboration with the production company Pense Bon in order to raise public awareness of homelessness among seniors. Numerous experts, as well as new residents of the Mirella and Lino Saputo Pavilion, share their stories and points of view on this growing phenomenon. They point out the holes in our social safety net at a time when the number of seniors in Quebec is growing rapidly.

¹Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec. (2023). Dénombrement des personnes en situation d’itinérance visible au Québec. Rapport de l’exercice du 11 octobre 2022.