Gatineau homeless shelter catches fire on New Year’s Eve
Posted Jan 2, 2020 12:50:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Almost 100 people have been displaced after a fire at Gîte Ami – a Gatineau homeless shelter.
More than two dozen firefighters arrived at 85 Morin Street shortly after 10:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve to a blaze coming from the kitchen.
Officials said in a release that the fire started in some debris outside the building and spread inside via the kitchen range hood.
90 people staying at the shelter were relocated to a nearby soup kitchen for accommodations that night.
On Wednesday, the City of Gatineau opened the Fontaine Community Centre at 120 rue Charlevoix in Hull to house those who had been staying at Gîte Ami.
The city is working with the Red Cross, the Gîte Ami, the Integrated Health and Social Services Center, as well as and the soup kitchen to manage the situation.
Door-to-door visits will be made Thursday morning around the community center to notify residents of this temporary situation.
It's not yet known when those using the services will be allowed to return to Gîte Ami.
