The Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) June 9 presented its Corporate Leadership Award in the “Safety and Security” category to Service Point for the Homeless, a joint project between the STM and the Société de développement social de Ville-Marie (SDSVM).
The STM is particularly proud to see this project recognized once again following its Novae award last week. This reflects the social commitment of the Société, which chose to support an innovative and constructive approach when faced with the problem of the homeless in métro stations.
A new way of helping
In December 2012, the SDSVM, the STM and various corporate, social and medical partners joined forces to provide an innovative alternative for homeless people at Place-des-Arts station, notably by setting up a service point at Mission St. Michael. Thanks to this project, a social worker, in collaboration with metro constables from the STM, meets with homeless people in the métro to offer them a listening ear, help and a reference service. In one year, 430 interventions took place in the métro, of which 140 led to a medical or social consultation at Mission St. Michael. In light of the positive results of phase 1, four other métro stations have been added for a period of three years: Berri-UQAM, Bonaventure, Atwater and McGill. Phase 2 will benefit from the efforts of two additional social workers.
