Specific Projects

Responding to changing realities

At Ricochet, we remain constantly alert and attentive to the social issues emerging within our community, particularly in the West Island. Aware that needs are constantly evolving, we are committed to developing concrete, tailored solutions in response. Our targeted initiatives reflect our proactive approach and our determination to provide meaningful support to those who need it most.

Discover how we turn listening into action.

Survivors for Survivors Project

Support for Women Experiencing Domestic Violence

More than half of women experiencing homelessness have lived through domestic violence—an alarming reality that is often the main cause of their precarious situation. In response to the overwhelming demand on support services, Ricochet and Women Aware have joined forces to create Survivors for Survivors, a vital initiative aimed at addressing this urgent need.

Provided Services

Support Line: A confidential telephone helpline (Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) to break isolation, offer immediate support and provide guidance towards appropriate resources.

Individual Support: Personalized meetings with volunteers who have lived through similar experiences, offering active listening, tailored support and guidance towards resources (phone, video, text or in person).

Safety Plan: Tailored advice and support to help women develop a plan to safely leave a dangerous situation.

Emergency Shelter and Transportation: Temporary emergency accommodation at the Ricochet Center (Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., reservation required before 3 p.m.) and bus tickets or a shuttle service to facilitate essential travel.

To access any of the services listed above, please call: (514) 489-1110.

Concrete Support for Survivors

Our Mission

The primary objective of Survivors for Survivors is to assist and empower women who are experiencing or have survived domestic violence through mutual support and the defense of their rights.

We offer personalized support and safe spaces for sharing, guided by intersectional feminism and a non-judgmental approach.

An Emergency We Address

With an average of 1 in 3 women facing domestic violence, and over 50% of women experiencing homelessness, Survivors for Survivors is our vital response to build a strong and accessible support network in the West Island.

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Seniors Project

Support for Homeless Seniors

Faced with an increasingly concerning reality, we have observed a significant increase in the number of seniors among the beneficiaries who frequent the Ricochet Center.

These older individuals, often struggling with serious health issues and reduced mobility, encounter considerable obstacles in accessing essential care, stable housing and the necessary daily assistance, leaving them in a state of great vulnerability.

It is in direct response to this observation and the urgency of the situation that we created the Seniors Project. This initiative aims to be a beacon of hope, determined to offer tailored support to restore stability and dignity to these seniors whose precariousness is amplified by complex health challenges and physical limitations.

Aware that existing solutions do not always adequately meet their specific needs, we created this project to offer them an adapted and humane opportunity to recover.

Putting People First

Our dedicated team works closely with essential partners to provide personalized and warm support. Through various activities such as art workshops, friendly gatherings around games and gardening initiatives, we strive to improve daily life and encourage positive interactions among seniors. It is this humanity and connection that we seek to cultivate.

Our Approach: Beyond Shelter, A Community

We go beyond emergency shelter. Our approach aims to:

Offer a safe and adapted space: Secure and accessible spaces designed for the comfort and mobility of seniors with reduced mobility.

Facilitate direct access to essential care: Direct connections with healthcare professionals, through key partnerships such as Doctors of the World and the Proxi team (nurses from the CIUSSS), ensure regular on-site medical follow-ups and consultations.

Rebuild social connections: Engagement activities to break isolation and improve mental well-being and social connections, including arts and crafts workshops, thematic workshops, a community gardening project, volunteer opportunities, gentle physical activities (yoga, stretching, meditation), as well as games like bingo, chess and cards.

Open doors to a stable future: Personalized support to assist each beneficiary in their efforts to access social assistance, housing applications and legal aid, while ensuring individualized follow-up to find long-term housing solutions and connect them with the necessary resources.

Youth Project

Increase in the Rate of Homeless Youth

The numbers speak for themselves: since November 2024, 40% of the individuals welcomed at the Ricochet Center are young people aged 18 to 34. Facing this reality, we have decided to adapt our interventions to specifically address the experiences, needs and aspirations of this generation.

Often, to survive, young people in highly precarious situations take risky paths: street gangs, illicit activities, theft, sex work. By implementing targeted support, we aim to build a social safety net to better protect them and reduce the risks associated with violence they experience or commit.

Breaking the Circle of Precariousness

A 2015 study highlighted distinct survival strategies among young people in precarious housing situations in the West Island: young men more often turned to criminal activities, while young women more frequently resorted to exchanging domestic or sexual services.

Our expertise, recognized in working with vulnerable populations, enables us to offer young people a space to refocus and rebuild their autonomy. We go beyond providing safe housing by offering:

Assistance with housing search;

Workshops on rights and responsibilities (citizens and tenants) and budgeting;

Intensive and individualized follow-up for young people aged 18 to 30 who are housed here.

Our commitment is to equip these young people with intensive support to counter the risk factors associated with the duration and frequency of homelessness, and thus promote their reintegration towards a stable future.

As the only homeless shelter in the West Island, our goal is to effectively address this urgent situation by offering solutions tailored to the specific realities of young people in highly precarious situations.