RAP Jeunesse

For those who are on the street, help through direct action

For more than 20 years, Rue Action Prévention, better known as RAP Jeunesse, has – through community action and street work, outreach and other projects – assisted teenagers, young adults and adults mainly from cultural communities and who are socially excluded, or individuals who do not use community, health and social services.

RAP Jeunesse’s mission has evolved over time to adjust to the community’s needs. It initially involved street work with youth between 12 and 25 years of age; now, Rue Action Prévention intervenes to help anyone 14 years and over, providing a range of services. It reaches out to youth via awareness-raising activities, and sex and addiction education in high schools. Adults are assisted by a day centre in Ahuntsic-Cartierville, street work and outreach by the Accès Soir mobile unit.

RAP Jeunesse supports populations in the northern part of Montreal and is active in the Parc-Extension, Saint-Laurent, Ahuntsic-Cartierville and Montreal-North districts. Intervenors make their way directly into living environments to respond to several types of problems, like poverty, isolation, family breakdowns, intergenerational conflict, violence, substance abuse and prostitution. RAP Jeunesse favours outreach, going wherever those in need are: on the street, in schools, metro stations, parks, shops, or other places where people meet and gather.

The adult population served by the organization is scattered and cut off from society. Generally, these individuals are no longer seeking out other resources, and have been on the street for some time. The main mode of action of Accès Soir’s intervenors is to seek them out wherever they are and extend a helping hand to them, which can take the form of listening, assistance, offering them health care, or accompanying them through various procedures that are vital to their daily lives, such as obtaining a Medicare card, finding appropriate community resources, dealing with the health care system, interacting with the justice system and reintegration programs, renting an apartment or obtaining social assistance, and occasionally the financial management of monthly amounts received.

Finally, the RAP team uses a comprehensive approach that focuses on care and empowerment, while moving at the individual’s own pace.