Mission Inclusion grants 27 organizations more than $780,000 to help rebuild bonds of community in 12 regions of Quebec

Montreal, January 12, 2023 – Mission Inclusion, the new name of L’ŒUVRE LÉGER, is distributing more than $780,000 to community organizations to help them fight poverty and the social exclusion of vulnerable people this winter.

For almost three years, the COVID-19 pandemic has been heightening the distress of people in vulnerable situations and causing hardship for others who had not previously been in difficulty. It has shone a bright light on inequalities, poverty-related issues and new social inclusion needs. The socioeconomic picture, which is darkened by the rising cost of living and the isolation of young people, families and seniors, is weakening the social fabric. For all these reasons, Mission Inclusion is proud to be an ally of community organizations, providing financial and organizational support to help them make a real difference.

This year, Mission Inclusion redoubled its efforts to support community organizations outside the major urban centres. They face special challenges, including a more dispersed population and fewer potential funders.

So Mission Inclusion is proud to support Maraîchers du Cœur in the Lower St. Lawrence region and its Jardin engagé project, which assists young adults aged 16-30 facing food insecurity by providing training and helping them acquire market gardening knowledge and skills that will enable them to get them back on track and become independent.

Mission Inclusion is also supporting Maison de la famille de Gatineau in the Outaouais region, which is setting up an outreach service to provide a continuum of supports for families from vulnerable, isolated populations that are disconnected from social networks. The goal is to improve health and well-being in the community by prioritizing outreach to people who typically use community services seldom or never.

Immigrants are an integral part of our communities and make an important contribution to their vitality. They deserve respect and inclusion, regardless of their status. Unfortunately, people without legal status are in situations of extreme vulnerability.

To lend concrete assistance,Mission Inclusionis providing Foyer du Monde in Montreal with funding to hire a social worker in order to meet the needs of asylum seekers and non-status families during their stay at the Foyer. Each family will be offered psychosocial support and an intervention plan to help them regularize their immigration status, learn French and achieve financial stability, among other things.

The contours of immigration are shifting rapidly in Quebec. A growing proportion of immigrants are settling in areas far from the major urban centres where most services for immigrants are located.

Mission Inclusion is therefore supporting the Centre-Femmes La Passerelle du Kamouraska in the Lower St. Lawrence region and its Femmes d’ailleurs, femmes du Kamouraska project, which is developing an immigrant women’s network.

After three years of pandemic, we need to restore the ties of solidarity that bind our communities and make sure everyone is included and considered. That is precisely what the community organizations supported byMission Inclusiondo in their work with vulnerable people across Quebec.

As an ally of community organizations, Mission Inclusion is proud to provide the funding announced today in order to fight poverty and promote social inclusion.

• Thorough analysis

The funded projects were selected on the basis of an analysis conducted by two committees made up of a dozen Mission Inclusion volunteers. They considered the community-based character of the organization, its involvement in the community and the project’s relevance to social inclusion in Quebec.

• Presence in all regions of Quebec

Mission Inclusion is strengthening its commitment to regions such as the Lower St. Lawrence and the Outaouais by supporting new organizations and projects. Currently, Mission Inclusion supports initiatives in 12 regions and 18 cities across Quebec.

• Addressing immigration-related issues, which exist in all parts of Quebec

Mission Inclusion is supporting Foyer du monde, the first time it has funded an organization whose main mission is to support asylum seekers and migrants in vulnerable situations in Montreal. Mission Inclusion is also supporting the Femmes d’ailleurs, femmes du Kamouraska project in the Lower St. Lawrence, in view of the increasing regionalization of immigration and the need for specialized services for immigrants in the region. It is indicative of the gravity of the issues related to immigration, a global challenge that we are experiencing in our own communities.

• Small-town housing crisis

The housing crisis affects all regions of Quebec, including those farthest from the major urban centres, where it often goes unnoticed because society and social institutions are focused on the centre. Mission Inclusion is supporting organizations such as La Hutte in Terrebonne, Transit in Sept-Îles, the Maison d’hébergement dépannage in Valleyfield and Maison Oxygène Laurentides.

Lower St. Lawrence

• Les Maraîchers du Cœur

• Centre-Femmes La Passerelle du Kamouraska

Quebec City

• Marché solidaire Croque Saint-Roch
• Centre communautaire l’amitié
• Mères et monde
• Maison Marie-Frédéric

Centre-du-Québec

• La Piaule

North Shore

• Transit de Sept-Îles

Chaudière-Appalaches

• Maison de la Famille de la MRC de L’Islet

Mauricie

• Centre de pédiatrie sociale de Trois-Rivières

Montérégie

• La popote roulante de Salaberry-de-Valleyfield
• Maison d’hébergement dépannage de Valleyfield

Montreal

• Bouffe-Action de Rosemont
• Centre de ressources périnatales Autour du bébé
• Mères avec pouvoir
• RAP Jeunesse
• Foyer du monde
• AJOI/Ricochet
• PACT de rue

Outaouais

• Centre alimentaire Aylmer
• Maison de la famille de Gatineau

Lanaudière

• La Hutte

Laurentians

• Maison Pause-Parents
• Services d’entraide Le Relais
• Centre d’entraide Racine-Lavoie
• Maison Oxygène Laurentides

Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean

• La Nichée

For more information about Mission Inclusion and the community organizations it supports, visit https://missioninclusion.ca

Information and interview requests