Montreal homeless woman’s death prompts calls for more resources this winter – Montreal | The Canadian News

The body of elderly Inuk Elisapie Pootoogook was found in a condo construction lot at the corner of René Lévesque Boulevard and Atwater Avenue on Saturday morning around 8:30 a.m.

“She was always extremely polite and charming, and yet at the same time you knew that even though she was small in stature there was a certain strength there,” said Resilience Montreal CEO David Chapman.

Chapman says the 61-year-old used to frequent the Resilience Montreal day shelter when she was traveling to Montreal for medical treatment. During her visits, the 61-year-old was trying to spend the night at the Atwater tube station.

“He had nowhere to go. She was trying to find a warm place. She goes to the construction site of a multi-million dollar condo and dies there, ”said Nakuset, executive director of the Native Women’s Shelter, who was visibly upset as she spoke of Pootoogook’s death.

Montreal police said there was no foul play involved. The investigation has been transferred to the Quebec forensic office.

Advocates for the homeless suspect he died of hypothermia. They add that his death highlights the need for permanent housing in areas frequented by homeless people.

“I think we need to see more political will, with real commitments. They are not nice and warm gestures of sympathy. You know a clear political will, ”said Chapman.

Named after the Innu man who died of the cold last winter, the Raphaël André tent in Cabot Square is a temporary resource in the area.

“The city will allow us to stay until March 31 if we can find the money. So the difficult thing is that it still falls on our shoulders to do it, ”Nakuset said.

Nakuset says the carp is just a cheesy solution. And with Covid protocols, only 15 people are allowed inside.

“When we have to turn someone away, we have to do it knowing that we may see them for the last time because they can freeze to death outside,” said Open Door Montreal coordinator John Tessier.

Tessier says Montreal needs to do more to quickly accommodate the growing number of homeless people.

The city did not respond to our request for comment before the deadline.

A memorial service for Pootoogook is scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m. in Cabot Square. Attendees are encouraged to bring flowers to decorate the construction site fence in their honor.