New project aims to tackle youth homelessness in Montreal

A Montreal project is trying to help young people experiencing homelessness with housing, education and mental health support.

A new project in Montreal’s east end aims to tackle homelessness among young people by providing housing, education and psychosocial support — all in one location.

Agora Déclic will be designed like a university campus. The project focuses on supporting young people who age out of Quebec’s youth protection system (DPJ).

“We need to recognize that these young people are living with complex trauma, and that’s likely where the core issue lies,” said Benoit Bernier, the co-founder of Agora Déclic.

Bernier describes the project as a “game-changer.”

“It’s the first time we’ve designed an integrated solution that specifically addresses their needs,” said Bernier.

Provincial data shows about 2,000 young people age out of the system each year.

He says the building will include 145 housing units and most of the residents will be students.

Bernier expects the average stay to be around three years.

The building is expected to welcome its first cohort of residents in 2028.

According to Quebec, by age 21, only about one-third of young people who grew up in care have graduated from high school.

Bernier says the new housing project will offer stability and help reduce the risk of homelessness for vulnerable youth.

When Smay-Lee Dubé was a teenager, she was in and out of the system. After turning 18, she aged out and was left with little support.

“You feel alone in the world,” she said.

The transition was a difficult one. Dubé says she did not know where she would sleep or where her next meal would come from.

With the help of Déclic, Dubé earned her high school diploma at age 26.

Now 34, Dubé says her life has completely changed. This fall, she says she plans to attend university, the first in her family to do so.

Dubé emphasizes that with the right help, projects like Agora Déclic can make a real difference.

“A project like this has to exist,” said Dubé. “It’s essential.”