Chez Doris buys new building, hopes to expand services thanks to $1M donation

ChezDoris, a women's day shelter located in downtown Montreal, has bought a second building with funding from a local Montreal businessman, and will be expanding their services to include emergency overnight beds.

This development is made possible thanks to a $1-million donation from Andrew Harper, announced last May.

The organization provides support to women dealing withhomelessness, poverty, mental illness and addictions. ChezDoris is the onlywomen's day shelter in Montreal that's open seven days a week.

It offersmeals, access to showers, hygienic products and clean clothes as well as a wide array of activities and counselling.

Executive Director MarinaBoulos-Wintonsaid ChezDoris would take possession of the new building Nov. 1. They aren't yet releasing the location, only saying that it is "in the west end of downtown Montreal."

"We're making plans to renovate our existing building and the newly acquired building to expand our services," saidBoulos-Winton.

The second building will house some of ChezDoris'counselling services and administrative offices. She said once the space is freed up at the current location, they hope to add20 overnight emergency shelter beds for homeless womenby the year 2020.

Right now, Chez Doris doesn't offer any overnight beds for clients.

"There's not enough emergency shelter beds for women,"Boulos-Wintontold CBC. "At least 25 per cent of our homeless population are women."

Largest private donation ever

Harper's donation was the largest private donation evermade to Chez Doris since its founding.

"If it weren't for him this wouldn't have happened at all," saidBoulos-Winton.

She said there are still many costs associated with the ambitious project and she hopes other private donors will be inspired by Harper to contribute to the expansion.

Harper, who ranA. Harper Associates Inc. with his late wife Carole, made his money importing and distributing specialty cookies and chocolates.

The current ChezDoris building bears the name of both Harper and his wife out front.

"I want to do good because I cannot take it with me," Harper told CBC. "It gives me a feeling of satisfaction. And I'm sure my good wife, I was married to her for 61 years, she would be very happy."

With files from CBC's Matt D'Amours.