Our Mission
The St-James Drop-in Centre offers a safe and supportive environment in the heart of downtown Montreal, where those facing isolation as well as mental health and housing challenges walk side-by-side with staff and fellow members toward building a compassionate and empowering community for personal development and fulfillment beyond basic needs.
Our Vision
We envision a community where all individuals have access to support, resources and connections to live fulfilling and autonomous lives.
Our Values
Our community is built on the principals of
Compassion & Empathy
Cooperation & Mutual Contribution
Inclusivity & Respect
Community & Belonging
Our History
On October 1985, the St-James Drop-In Centre began. Initially situated on the third floor of St. James United Church, the centre has catered to people experiencing issues related to homelessness, mental health concerns and addition.
Now located in the heart of the Village, the centre tends to the needs of our members by offering nutritious meals, access to showers, and clean clothes. We also provide counselling, crisis intervention, monitoring of medication and assistance with welfare. Our team works with members in order to secure housing opportunities, accompaniment to important appointments as well as acting as collaborating with outside agencies such as legal services, hospitals, CLSCs, and detox centres.
The Drop-In takes part in Emploi Québec’s Social Integration Measure, INSO, a provincial government-subsidized program which reintegrates participants into the workforce. Capable members of the centre are given the opportunity to develop their social and work skills with part-time employment opportunities on site.
Through our partnerships, St-James also serves as a valuable resource for student teachers, medical interns and social workers in training by offering internship positions and professional development programs.
In the common spaces of our facilities, our community members are free in deciding how they wish to spend their time. Coffee is always served and our daily guests are free to borrow books from our library, use the telephone, play games and music or explore creative art practices in our well-stocked creative art room.
We invite members of diverse identities and lived experiences to define safety and compassion collectively as a whole. If you are a prospective member or wish to participate in the support of our program, we welcome you to the home we are building together.
Our Partners
