MONTREAL – A Montreal waitress facing eviction after a significant rent increase received a lifeline from a unique program offering interest-free loans and crucial support services, averting a potential descent into homelessness. The program, run by Maison du Père, has assisted 153 households avoid eviction between June 2024 and December 31, 2025, providing a model for preventative measures in a city grappling with a housing crisis.
Johanne Beauchamp, 58, found herself with a $3,000 debt and an eviction order from the Administrative Tribunal du Logement following a rent increase she could not afford, compounded by serious health issues. “If it hadn’t been for Samuel, I would have been outside, on the street! He really saved my life…” Beauchamp recounted, referring to Samuel Drolet-Bégin, an intervention worker at Maison du Père, connected to her through Patricia Mercier of the Comité logement de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal Infologis.
The “Banque d’aide au loyer” (Rent Assistance Bank) was conceived by Duane Mansveld, then coordinator of prevention services at Maison du Père, after encountering a man just $150 short of being able to remain in his home. Mansveld proposed to his director, Jaëlle Bégarin, that the organization simply cover the shortfall. Bégarin expanded on the idea, envisioning a more comprehensive program.
Unlike simple loan programs, Maison du Père’s initiative prioritizes psychosocial support alongside financial assistance. This holistic approach has yielded a 63% repayment rate, significantly higher than the one-in-three success rate typically seen with transactional loan services, according to Mansveld, now the organization’s Deputy Clinical Director. The program has disbursed nearly $265,000 in loans over 2024 and 2025, with repaid funds reinvested to help more individuals.
The program’s success is particularly notable given the demographics of those seeking assistance. Drolet-Bégin notes that the majority of applicants are not individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, but rather “ordinary people” – including bankers, psychologists, teachers, and healthcare workers – who discover themselves vulnerable due to unforeseen circumstances. One in four Montreal renters are struggling to pay their rent, according to recent data, demonstrating a widening vulnerability within the city’s population.
Stephan Lawrence Fisher, 58, of Ville-Émard, is another beneficiary. Following the death of his wife, Wendy, a healthcare worker, Fisher accumulated $3,100 in back rent. The bank provided a loan although he navigated the process of applying for a rent supplement program through the Office municipal d’habitation de Montréal, which would reduce his rent to 25% of his income. His application has been approved, but the adjustment is still pending.
The program is currently participating in a pilot project, supported by the Quebec government, to proactively identify tenants at risk of eviction at the Administrative Tribunal du Logement. Interveners will be present to connect vulnerable individuals with resources, including the Rent Assistance Bank.
Solidarity Quebec MNA Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, who highlighted the program’s success, argues for broader investment in preventative measures and social housing. “A shelter saves lives. Social housing rebuilds them,” he stated, adding that preventing homelessness in the first place is the most effective solution. He emphasized that individuals are not born into homelessness, but rather fall into it due to systemic issues.
The Rent Assistance Bank operates on a budget of $181,000 allocated to loans, but estimates that preventing a single individual from becoming homeless saves the state $72,500 annually, not accounting for the immeasurable human cost.
