FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Who does Elizabeth House help?

We help pregnant girls and pregnant women who have little or no family support and who need help in a supervised setting to prepare to be mothers.

We help mothers and fathers of young children (from newborn to 5 years old) who are in significant difficulty in one or more areas of their lives such that it affects their ability to successfully parent their children.

Is Elizabeth House a shelter?

Elizabeth House is not a shelter, it is a rehabilitation centre for young parents.

Who can come to Elizabeth House? Is there an age limit?

There is no age limit for getting help from Elizabeth House. We help pregnant teens and expectant mothers of any age, and families (including single parent families) with a child from newborn to five years old. It is the age of the child that determines whether we can provide services to a family.

Who can go to Elizabeth High School through the Education Program?

Elizabeth High School is open to pregnant teens and teenage moms who are eligible to go to an English sector school in Québec. You must be

  • 17 years old and under;
  • or 18 years old, and only have one year or less to complete your diploma requirements and were registered in school if the past year;
  • If you are between 18 and 20 you may be eligible for admission to the school program. Please contact the head teacher or the Education Program Educator ( michele.bourdages.elizabeth@ssss.gouv.qc.ca) at the time of referral for further details.

Is there a time limit to the services offered?

No, we provide services as long as a client needs them and benefits from them. We set up an individual intervention plan with each client, outlining goals and strategies. These plans are reviewed and revised regularly.

Is there a cost for services at Elizabeth House?

There is no cost for external services. There may be a cost for the residential programs, based on the financial situation of the person who needs the services of Elizabeth House. Clients with limited income (e.g. who are on Social Assistance/welfare) or who have no income do not pay for services and, in fact, may be eligible to get a monthly allowance (of $189.00)* from the Bureau d’hébergement for their personal expenses. Depending on her financial situation, a mother may be required to make a financial contribution if her baby is placed with her at Elizabeth House.

(* Eligibility and the amount of the allowance are determined solely by the Direction de la contribution et de l’aide financière of the Régie d’assurance-maladie du Quebec. For more information please contact them at (514) 873-1529.)

Do clients who are on Social Assistance (Welfare) continue to get welfare when they are at Elizabeth House?

Clients who are on Social Assistance (Welfare) get a check for the month in which they are admitted to Elizabeth House. After that, they can get an allowance from the Bureau d’hébergement as long as they are residents at Elizabeth House.

If a client gets a Welfare check for the month following that in which she was admitted to Elizabeth House (i.e. the Bureau d’hébergement did not have time to process the admission and notify Social Assistance (Welfare), she will have to pay back the difference between the amount of that check and the amount she is entitled to from the Bureau d’hébergement.

In the residential programs, what does Elizabeth House pay for and what do clients pay for?

Elizabeth House is responsible for:

  • Lodging
  • Nutritious, well-balanced meals for moms and for children who are eating solids
  • Prescription medication
  • Emergency transportation
  • Bed linens

The client is responsible for:

  • Personal expenses such as clothing, toiletries and sundry items
  • Necessary items for the baby such as bedding for the baby’s crib, diapers, formula, clothing, toys, strollers, etc. For older babies, the mother may use the food provided by Elizabeth House
  • Regular transportation

What is the link between the Bureau d’hébergement and Social Assistance (Welfare)?

These two departments are very closely related and they communicate regularly with one another. Clients eligible for Social Assistance (Welfare) are automatically eligible for hébergement and vice versa.

Does Elizabeth House accept emergency placements?

Elizabeth House does not accept emergency placements. However, depending on the situation and needs of the client, Elizabeth House is able to respond quickly to referrals.

What is the average wait for services?

Normally, services may be offered within 2 weeks of receipt of a service request. Elizabeth House may respond more quickly depending on the situation.

Is Elizabeth House a part of Youth Protection?

Elizabeth House is a private rehabilitation centre. We are completely separate from Batshaw Youth and Family Centres and all other Youth Protection agencies. We do, however, work with these organizations at times, to address the needs of children and youth whose security or development is believed to be compromised.