Quebec coroner to investigate how homeless man died outside, steps from closed shelter

The Quebec coroner is investigating the death of a homeless Innu man whose body was discovered in a portable toilet in the Plateau Sunday morning.

Authorities say Raphaël André, 51, was pronounced dead at the scene, at the corner of Milton Street and Parc Avenue. 

He was originally from the community of Matimekush-Lac John in northern Quebec.

Montreal police determined the death wasn't criminal and turned the investigation over to the coroner.

André had spent part of Saturday night at The Open Door, said executive director Mélodie Racine. The Montreal drop-in centre is just steps away from where the body was found.

Racine said André couldn't stay because the health authority had forced the shelter to close at 9:30 p.m. following an outbreak of COVID-19. It used to be open 24/7.

"He didn't die for one reason. There are a lot of factors in place. But what I know is that if he was not asked to leave, he would have probably stayed inside," she said.

André was a familiar face at the shelter, where staff provided him with food, clothing, a place to shower and emotional comfort, Racine said.

'People cared about him'

He was seen earlier Saturday making snowmen outside near the shelter.

"There's a lot of people in here who are very sad," said John Tessier, intervention co-ordinator at The Open Door.

"He was respected and people cared about him."

Tessier said André "wanted to stay" and they would have let him, had they been allowed.

"He would have been here and he wouldn't have had to die in the toilet," he said.

In December, a COVID-19 outbreak and a plumbing issue forced the shelter to close. When it reopened in the new year, it wasn't allowed to stay open overnight.

In a statement released Monday, the CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l'île-de Montréal said it issued a list of 13 public health recommendations following the outbreak. 

"The CIUSSS is still awaiting the implementation of these measures at the Open Door," the statement said. "CIUSSS West-Central Montreal is ready to recommend the reopening of the warming centre at night if the sanitary measures will be applied and maintained to the height of [health ministry] directives."          

But Racine said the shelter never received any such recommendations, and that if she had been told there was a way for the shelter to reopen at night, she would have done it. 

"It's ridiculous. I have a space that is empty at night while there are people sleeping outside."

Mayor Valérie Plante said in a statement the city is working with public health authorities to ensure the shelter is able to reopen through the night.

She said the man's death highlights the need for improved access to services during the pandemic.

The city has opened up more shelter space during the pandemic, with two hotels now serving the city's homeless population. The old Royal Victoria hospital also has more beds available.