La rue des Femmes

La rue des Femmes has been challenging the ways in which we understand and treat homeless women since 1994. Founded by Leonie Couture, La rue des Femmes is a relational health centre that helps women who are in a state of homelessness or who at risk of being so. It currently operates three centres in downtown Montreal, which offer care, therapies, meals, and lodging. La rue des Femmes does much more than provide shelter to homeless women: it tries to heal the wounds that caused them to fall into a state of homelessness. Its intervention approach is entirely unique. It is founded on rebuilding relational health: the vital capacity to feel safe and to connect with oneself and others. Relational health is critical for a person to thrive and lead an independent life. Through compassion, care, and treatment, La rue des Femmes helps women heal from the violence and traumatic events that led to them to state of homelessness and that continue when they live on the streets. Regardless of...