Lara Humes Doucet, President of the Board of Directors of Le Centre d’écoute et d’intervention Face à Face, shares her journey with the organization and its mission to support Montreal’s most vulnerable adults. In this interview, she reflects on Face à Face’s human-centred approach, the challenges facing marginalized communities, and the collective action needed to foster dignity, inclusion, and lasting change.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences
Le Centre d’écoute et d’intervention Face à Face (Face à Face) is a bilingual, community-based non-profit organization that has been serving Montreal since 1982. We support vulnerable adults (18+) experiencing housing instability, “homelessness,” social isolation, or mental health challenges, including many individuals from visible minority backgrounds. Our free frontline services include active listening and referrals (by phone or in person), short-term counselling,
housing search assistance, postal box services, and psychosocial interventions such as accompaniments. Rooted in empathy, empowerment, respect, and community partnership, our approach helps individuals regain stability, foster autonomy, and reconnect with their communities. We strive to meet people where they are, offering support in the language they speak whenever possible.
What problem does it aim to solve?
Face à Face works to remove the barriers that prevent marginalized individuals from accessing essential services and social support. By providing mailing addresses, accompaniment, and referrals, we serve as an entry point for those excluded from government programs that require proof of residence, such as RAMQ, pensions, and social aid. Beyond addressing these practical needs, we aim to break the cycles of isolation and stigma through compassionate active listening and empowerment. Guided by a humanistic and community-centred approach, we strive to foster dignity, inclusion, and autonomy, creating spaces where every individual feels safe, valued, and empowered.
When did you start/join it?
I joined Face à Face in August 2021 as a volunteer, later became a staff member (Intervention Worker) in July 2022 and joined the Board of Directors in July 2023.
What made you want to get involved?
I wanted to contribute to the Montreal community in a way that directly supports individuals who are too often stigmatized, misunderstood, or left behind. The bilingual nature of Face à Face’s services, along with its person-centred, nonjudgmental, and community-driven approach, resonated deeply with my own values of equity, diversity, inclusion, empathy, and social justice.
What was the situation like when you started?
When I joined in 2021, Montreal was still navigating post-pandemic challenges, marked by a sharp rise in social isolation and housing precarity. The organization was operating with limited volunteer capacity amid growing demand for frontline support. Despite these challenges, the dedication of staff and volunteers to uphold our mission and core values: integrity, equity, collaboration, inclusion, caring and compassion, and empowerment, provided a strong foundation of care, resilience, and community trust.
How has it changed since?
Since then, we’ve focused on strengthening our internal structure and governance by standardizing protocols, improving transparency, clarifying staff roles, and expanding community partnerships. Our leadership has also rebuilt a strong volunteer base, advocated for equitable access to resources, and integrated trauma- and violence-informed practices across all of our services to ensure safer, more compassionate care for every client.
What more needs to be done?
Ongoing priorities include destigmatizing “homelessness,” isolation, and mental health challenges; building partnerships with trauma- and violence-informed organizations for more comprehensive referrals; and securing greater provincial funding to sustain and grow our services. Broader systemic change is needed to ensure every individual has equitable access to housing, care, and dignity.
How can our readers help?
You can help by joining our mission!
– Volunteer: We’re always seeking volunteers for our active listening, referral and mailbox reception services.
– Join the Board of Directors: We’re currently recruiting volunteer board members from diverse backgrounds, including law, social work, health care, and first response, to help guide our organization’s next steps.
– Donate: Monetary contributions, food, and basic supplies are always welcome; they are distributed directly to our clients in need.
Do you have any events coming up?
Keep an eye on our social media accounts for upcoming events.
Where can we follow you?
You can follow us on our Website, Instagram, and Facebook for updates, volunteer opportunities, and community initiatives.
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with Chez Doris in two capacities: first as an Intervention Worker at Face à Face, and later as a master’s nursing student with McGill University at the Nurse-Led Clinic hosted there. Chez Doris supports vulnerable women (both cis and trans) by providing essential services to those experiencing housing instability, poverty, mental illness, and/or addiction. Their work fosters safety, dignity, and hope for women in Montreal.
