 Drop-in Program |
SERVICES
Provide a safe, home-like environment for women in difficulty
Respond to their immediate needs
Offer programs and services tailored to their needs
Act as a preventive avenue for women who are vulnerable to suicide, homelessness, etc.
Provide comfort and services to those who are itinerant
Provide comfort and services to those who are homeless
Provide information and referral services on-site and by telephone |
OBJECTIVES
Alleviate and reduce problems of loneliness, isolation and depression
Stimulate social interaction and the development of friendships
Reduce the number of homeless women
Reduce the number of attempted suicides |
RESULTS
More than 24,943 visits this year
More than 8,316 calls received |
| Meal Program |
SERVICES
Provide two nutritional meals daily (breakfast and lunch)
Promote social interaction and development of friendships
Teach women (clients) basic tasks
Provide emergency food supplies |
OBJECTIVES
Increase food security
Improve mental and physical well-being
Increase women's social interaction
Foster a team spirit among the clientele and a sense of belonging
Install a sense of empowerment. |
RESULTS
More than 37,245 meals served
including 12,302 breakfasts
710 emergency food bags |
| Financial Administration program |
SERVICES
Available to women in need of financial administration throughout the Montreal area through referrals from CLSCs, social workers, etc.
Helps administer and manage women's income
Provides a way for women to improve their financial situation and maintain their living arrangements |
OBJECTIVES
Improve client financial situation
Promote financial self-sufficiency
Help women
benefit from various government assistance programs
Increase number of women able to manage their own financial affairs
Help women return to school or to the work force
Stabilize their living arrangements
Decrease number homeless women |
RESULTS
60 women registered in the program. 15 others come for consultation once a month |
| Inuit Assistance Program |
SERVICES
Provide education on health and social services to Inuit clientele
Offer information on HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Provide a safe and accepting environment for these women who are cut off from northern families and friends
Promote self-confidence
Promote the use of condoms
Offer Inuit cultural activities
Encourage communication with their community up north |
OBJECTIVES
Decrease the number of cases of HIV infection as well as AIDS
Decrease the occurence of STDs
Increase self-confidence and lower tolerance for violence in
relationships
Decrease social and health problems |
RESULTS
Partnership with Makivik Corporation signed in April 2011 to help finance an Inuk case worker for the program |
| Physical Health Program |
| The physical health program involves the services of professionals that have the wellbeing
of the women at heart. |
Foot Care Program
With the financial support of the Marcelle and Jean Coutu Foundation, Chez Doris offer a foot care clinic.
A nurse specializing in podiatry provides treatment and advice during one-hour sessions every week. |
OBJECTIVES
Facilitate access to medical care
Promote better physical and mental health
Improve personal care |
RESULT
576 visits to the nurse this year |
Optometry Service
Optometrist Philippe Rochette comes to the House so the women can
benefit from a professional and accessible service. |
RESULT
50 visits to the optometrist this year |
Personal Care Service
What better way to relax tension than a deep massage. A volunteer masseur offers services once a week. |
OBJECTIVES
Improve client health by reducing stress and tensions
Improve self-confidence through personal care |
RESULTS
156 consultations this year |
Testimonies
“What a wonderful experience to be a part of the Chez Doris mission: health
from head to toe! Since starting in January, I’ve been able to evaluate, advise
and treat a number of women from the shelter. Several come out of curiosity,
never having had access to this sort of treatment before. Some start off
cautiously, while others jump at the opportunity and come back for followup
sessions. I see that as a mark of confidence. The feet I’ve examined have
walked many a mile…”
Marie Cimon, Podiatry Nurse |
“I’ve found the foot care nurse quite
useful. She makes me feel relaxed. This
service is very convenient because I’m
not able to reach my feet because of my
disability. I find it important to have my
feet cared for so that I feel comfortable in
my shoes.”
Andrea, cliente |
| Mental Health Service |
| Every week, the House offered free confidential individual sessions with a
counsellor for on-going psychological support and follow-up. |
RESULT
Pat Hardt performed 125 consultations |
| A psychiatrist, Dr. Desrosiers came to the House twice a month to evaluate
and follow-up clients’ mental health problems. |
RESULT
Dre Desrosiers performed 153
consultations |
| Clothing and Hygiene Program |
SERVICES
Assist women with little or no income with their clothing needs
Provide women with proper shower facilities and hygiene products |
OBJECTIVES
Improvement clients’ hygiene habits
Increase clients’ sense of self-esteem
Offer a secure environment for homeless women, access to a
bathroom and convenient clothes for the season |
RESULT
More than 2600 visits to the clothing room
this year |
| Legal Information Program |
SERVICES
Provide accessible information and assistance for various legal issues.
Install a sense of empowerment in women who feel defenceless.
Sensitize legal student to the many problems that women in difficulty face |
OBJECTIVES
Establish a strong legal information base for both
clients and staff
Alleviate clients’ stress from legal problems
Encourage women to speak more openly about their
problems and seek solutions rather than worrying
and feeling helpless |
RESULT
2 law students carried out 227 consultations this year |
| Socio-Recreational Programs |
SERVICES
Provide social and recreational activities for women
Celebrate birthdays every month
Offer a schedule of monthly activities |
OBJECTIVES
Improve clients' general morale
Promote their sense of self-worth and pride
Increase sense of belonging in the House
Provide the opportunity for women to forget about their problems for a short while
Reduce clients’ depression and suicidal tendencies |
VARIOUS SOCIO-RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS CHEZ DORIS OFFERS:
Arts and crafts - 728 participations this year
Games and activities
Videos
Bingo (prizes include: foodstuffs, toiletries and basic items women need) |
SUMMER ACTIVITIES PROGRAM
Outings (included: visits to museums, movies and guided tours of various popular tourist attractions)
City walking tours
Excursions outside of the city: sugaring-off party, apple picking, beach trips, etc.
1st sleep-away camp: 20 campers went to CCS camp Kinkora for 3 days |
| Educational Programs |
OBJECTIVES
Provide various educational workshops and programs to empower
women with information and confidence
Help women become self-sufficient
Enable women to return to school and/or work
Improve the women’s overall quality of life |
RESULTS
Computer sessions:
1,248 visits to the computer room
Yoga: 30 sessions
Workshops on fire prevention and anger
management
105 women benefitted from free income
tax service preperation services |
COLLECTIVE KITCHEN
The collective kitchen is now being offered on a weekly basis. Activities
revolve around planning economical menus for one, how to read recipes
and how to choose ingredients. The program is supervised by experienced
volunteers, whose expertise and familiarity with the clients have ensured
that this program is one of our most popular and successful programs.
OBJECTIVES
Planning economical mwnus for one person
Learning how to read recipes
Choosing ingredients
Practicing basic cooking skills |
RESULT
624 participated in the Collective
kitchen program this year |
SEWING WORKSHOP
OBJECTIVES
Provide a setting where the women can learn to sew a variety of small
and large items
Teach the women to create and repair articles of clothing
Create a learning environment which is basic, fun and functional |
RESULT
520 participated in the workshops this year |
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