La Maison Gilles-Carle in Montreal, offering a respite service and temporary accommodation for people with a loss of autonomy, is suspending its activities. The organization is questioning the difficulties in obtaining subsidies from the Government of Quebec.
Maison Gilles-Carle suspended its services and activities on April 30, 2023 since the owner of the building, where it was located, forced them to leave the premises.
“If the owner forces us to leave the premises, it is because he considers that the rental commitments have not always been respected. Admittedly, we have had to delay the payment of our rent on a few occasions, even if it has always been made,” the organization explained on its Facebook page on Wednesday.
The organization is questioning the difficulties in obtaining subsidies from the Quebec government. “How many times we had to challenge the CIUSSS and the government regarding delays, unpaid sums and the terms of the agreement that changed frequently and without prior warning,” he says.
The respite service team sends a cry from the heart to the provincial government. “Mr. Legault, Mr. Dubé, Ms. Bélanger, can the caregivers we serve still count on you? “, can we read in their statement.
The organization offered respite services to more than 600 caregivers each year by welcoming their cared-for people in its day center or in its residential respite service. By ceasing its activities, it had to lay off about twenty employees.
On Thursday, the Regional Round Table on Caregivers of Montreal (TCRPAM) expressed “its deep concern” about the closure of Maison Gilles-Carle.
“Long-term respite is an essential resource for caregivers. It offers irreplaceable moments of rejuvenation to those people who are already tried and exhausted by the lack of home services that they must compensate for,” they said.
The Maison Gilles-Carle de Boucherville had also closed its doors in April 2022, less than two years after its opening. “What is the government waiting for to really support caregivers and the organizations that help them? “, said the TCRPAM.
