At the heart of preventive and curative healthcare lies the crucial role of nutrition. Recognizing this, the Integrated University Health and Social Services Center (CIUSSS) of Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal has pioneered the Solidarity Hospital Program, an innovative initiative integrating nutrition into the care of vulnerable outpatient users across our facilities.

Through this project, healthcare professionals in physical, mental, or social health can 'prescribe' complimentary meals from the cafeteria to aid patient recovery and strengthen the therapeutic relationship. These meals serve as a powerful tool for doctors, occupational therapists, social workers, and other intervenors, providing an additional resource to care for the most vulnerable individuals.

Current Situation and Target Audience

Sadly, many vulnerable individuals receiving care lack the means to maintain proper nutrition. The ongoing pandemic and recent inflationary pressures have heightened food insecurity throughout Quebec, particularly in more vulnerable neighborhoods of Montreal.

Daily, CIUSSS clinical intervenors encounter patients grappling with food insecurity or even homelessness, where reliable access to nutrition is precarious. Often, these patients struggle to actively engage in their care or respond less effectively, as addressing long-term health concerns becomes challenging when basic needs such as adequate nutrition are unmet.

While government funding covers the food services budget for hospitalized users, outpatient patients receive no such support. The Solidarity Hospital Program was thus conceived with the generous support of donors to care for non-hospitalized users living in precarious situations. This crucial initiative benefits various client groups visiting facilities such as Notre-Dame Hospital, Verdun Hospital, CLSCs, and other partner clinics within the CIUSSS of Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal.

Program Description and Objectives

For over 24 months, with initial grant funding and now in partnership with the Urban Health Foundation, the Solidarity Hospital Program enables identified CCSMTL users to receive nutritious meals from the cafeteria or stock their freezers with frozen meals, facilitating their overall care.

By eliminating food insecurity and its anxiety-inducing effects, users can focus on other aspects of their treatment. Health professionals in our facilities view offering this service as an integral part of their intervention plan, an essential service for improving the quality of life for their clients. The program has several goals:

Provide free meals to vulnerable individuals under our care Counter the collateral effects of food insecurity on the health of CIUSSS users Reduce food waste Many intervenors highlight the stabilizing and calming effect of meals on the mental health of users. This tool enables them to build trust, alleviate immediate crises, and gives users the opportunity to address the underlying issues that bring them to our facilities.

Watch the program video here (French only)

The sustainability of the Solidarity Hospital Program relies on funding from various stakeholders, including the Urban Health Foundation, whose mission is to support innovative initiatives for the well-being of CIUSSS users in Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal. It is within this perspective that the Foundation provides financial support to maintain this unique intervention and prevention tool.