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A winter overflow shelter for the homeless, set to open Monday night on the site of the former Royal Victoria Hospital, will have 150 beds — up from 82 last year.

And because winter arrived early, the shelter is opening a month before it did last year. It will remain open through April. Last winter, the temporary overflow shelter accommodated 1,500 individuals, said Matthew Pearce, president and CEO of the Old Brewery Mission. Many were people who “sleep rough” — who are not part of the shelter system. Some don’t qualify for admission to other resources, such as active addicts and people with pets; others are transgender individuals, who often feel unwelcome using shelter resources.

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They will be safe and they will be warm at the overflow shelter, which is provided through a partnership of Montreal organization serving the homeless population. This year the shelter, located in what was the former hospital’s Ross Pavilion, will occupy two floors — one for men and one for women. Last year it was on one floor.