Summary#
On February 16, 2026, Montréal city council unanimously approved a position supporting a 90-day, rent-free loan of the former Bain St-Denis building to L'Amour en Action SYL DAN. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. The stated goal is to provide a winter warming centre for people experiencing homelessness or vulnerability.
- The building at 7075 rue Saint-Hubert, in the borough of Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, is 15,406 square feet. The loan is to run from February 1, 2026, for 90 days.
- City staff describe a planned centre for about 20 people, open daily from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m.
- The organization is to use the building rent-free. The estimated value of that property subsidy is $56,978.
- The organization, the borough and the City’s property management service each take on specified building costs.
What it means for you#
- People needing a warm place overnight: The decision supports use of the building as a warming centre. The city staff summary describes the intended hours and capacity; the resolution itself does not guarantee how many people will be served.
- L'Amour en Action SYL DAN: It would receive free use of the building for the stated period and purpose. It must cover cleaning, upkeep, minor repairs and other operating costs to keep the building in good condition.
- The borough and City: The borough must cover snow removal and exterior upkeep. The City’s property management service must cover energy and technical maintenance.
- Residents and taxpayers: The decision does not create a general benefit, tax or fee. The 90-day period beginning February 1, 2026, has elapsed; the materials do not establish whether the centre operated.
Money#
The decision assigns some costs but gives no estimate of the total public cost.
- The $56,978 figure is an estimated value of the free use of the building, not a stated cash payment.
- The organization covers cleaning, upkeep, minor repairs and operating costs.
- The borough covers snow removal and exterior upkeep from its operating budget.
- The City’s property management service covers energy and technical maintenance; no amount is given.
What is unclear#
- The loan depends on the terms of an agreement, but those terms are not included in the supplied material.
- The materials do not give the costs of energy, technical maintenance, borough work or the organization’s expenses.
- The summary describes an intended capacity and schedule, but does not say how many people actually used the centre.
Case for#
- City staff say the building was vacant and needed little work, so it could be used for a winter warming centre.
- Free use of an existing building could provide overnight indoor space without charging the organization rent.
Case against#
- The $56,978 property value is not the full cost to the public: energy, technical maintenance and borough work are also assigned, without estimates.
- The materials do not explain how the organization’s planned capacity and hours would be delivered or what would happen if demand exceeded capacity.