The Old Brewery Mission and Allstate Insurance Canada are helping people out of homelessness

The Grand Project will help 25 citizens to furnish their new home and create a functional and safe environment during their first step out of homelessness

The Grand Project

The Old Brewery Mission and Allstate Insurance Company of Canada are pleased to announce they are partnering on a new project that helps citizens transitioning out of homelessness to feel at home in their community housing. The “Grand Project,” managed by the Housing, Urban Health, and Research team of the Old Brewery Mission, offers 25 studio apartments in the Notre-Dame-de-Grace area, for men and women, where they can rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society. Those individuals will benefit from signing service contracts for their new homes, which Allstate will furnish with appliances to provide the basic amenities for functional living.

For the last two years, the Allstate Foundation and the nine Allstate Agencies in the Montreal region have been supporting the Old Brewery Mission as a giveback-to-the-community. After helping to alleviate the costs of a new medical clinic at the Webster Pavilion last year, Allstate is now participating in its second major program: the Grand Project.

“We are thrilled to be supporting the Grand Project which is so aligned with the Old Brewery Mission’s objective to see the end of homelessness. We wish to congratulate the Old Brewery Mission social housing team that has worked with partners to provide furniture to women and men of this project. Allstate’s donation of $10,000 is helping 25 people integrate comfortably into a house by buying essential appliances for their home,” says Carmine Venditti, Allstate Insurance Agency Manager.

In the first six months after relocating to modestly-priced housing in the community, a new resident will seek to build social ties and furnish their apartment to make it their own. The first six months are therefore crucial for developing a sense of home and redefining oneself as a tenant. More often than not, participants end up with empty apartments, where it will take them several months to get settled in comfortably. Residents of community-supported housing will turn down an apartment if they are unable to feed themselves properly or buy basic furniture.

In addition to furnishing the apartments with basic appliances, The Grand Project offers the new tenants continued support from counselors and the opportunity to sign service contracts in order to help foster a sense of ownership while transitioning out of homelessness into a new home.

“Helping Montreal’s most vulnerable men and women transform their lives is a constant reminder and inspiration that we must go beyond alleviating homelessness and end it. Quite simply, no person should have to experience homelessness. The Grand Project is the best example of the last step in that journey and we are pleased to include a partner like Allstate which helps us put together such a meaningful and dedicated program,” states Matthew Pearce, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Old Brewery Mission.

About Allstate Insurance Company of Canada:

Allstate Insurance Company of Canada is one of the country’s leading producers and distributors of home and auto insurance products, including usage-based insurance, serving Canadians since 1953. The company strives to keep its customers in “Good Hands®” as well as its employees, and has been listed as a Best Employer in Canada for four years in a row. Allstate Canada is committed to making a positive difference in the communities in which it operates and has partnered with organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada), United Way, and Junior Achievement. To learn more about Allstate Canada, visit www.allstate.ca. For safety tips and advice, visit goodhandsadvice.ca.