Health Authorities to Reopen Royal Victoria Hospital Homeless Shelter as City Prepares for Second Wave

The old Royal Victoria Hospital will soon reopen as a homeless shelter, providing one of the city’s most vulnerable groups a safe place to sleep.

Montreal’s health authorities are currently making arrangements to addresses a possible coronavirus second wave. Plans include setting up the beds at the Royal Vic at safe distances to help prevent the virus’s transmission among the homeless. The shelter will offer a total of 150 beds, 50 women and 100 men.

The building’s multiple floors will be sectioned into different zones to accommodate individuals who have tested positive, are awaiting test results or just require shelter.

Each zone will have separate entry points, and dedicated stairways and elevators.

The pandemic has forced shelters across the province to reduced beds to respect safe distancing regulations.