Noah McConnell recently established his own living space after more than eighteen months. He resides in a tent covered with tarps, positioned between a highway and railroad tracks in Montreal’s Sud-Ouest borough. McConnell expressed gratitude for having a place to call his own, highlighting the limitations of shelters as alternatives.
The proliferation of encampments, like the one McConnell resides in, serves as a stark indication of Montreal’s escalating homelessness crisis and service deficiencies. The challenge of addressing encampments and facilitating housing solutions for homeless individuals looms large for the incoming mayor as winter approaches.
The Sud-Ouest encampment, which expanded during the summer, now accommodates over a dozen tents and makeshift shelters, including a trailer. Despite the borough’s garbage collection efforts, resources remain scarce, with no access to electricity or running water. McConnell shared that a neighbor initially allowed them to use water from a hose, but the supply was later cut off by someone else.
Under the administration of outgoing Mayor Valérie Plante, Montreal faced criticism for its inconsistent response to encampments across various sites and boroughs. Homeless support organizations advocate for a more coherent strategy to assist encampment residents in transitioning to stable housing.
A comprehensive report released by Montreal’s public consultation office this summer highlighted significant governance shortcomings in combating homelessness within the city and the wider province. The report emphasized the need to avoid dismantling encampments, as such actions merely displace chronic homelessness without resolving the underlying issues.
Recent homeless counts in Montreal reveal a concerning rise in visibly unhoused individuals, underlining the urgency of addressing the housing crisis. Alexandre Côté, a housing support worker, emphasized the necessity of rapid access to affordable housing as the primary requirement for individuals facing homelessness.
Tommy, another resident of the encampment, expressed the universal desire for a permanent home, underscoring the shared aspiration for stable housing among those experiencing homelessness. The absence of viable housing options often leads individuals to inhabit encampments as a last resort.
Montreal’s municipal government revamped its approach to encampments earlier this year, aiming to guide residents towards supportive resources and eventual housing solutions. However, the city’s strategy still allows for the potential eviction of encampment inhabitants, raising concerns about the long-term effectiveness of such measures.
Experts and advocates stress the importance of prioritizing permanent housing solutions over temporary encampments. They call for a clear policy framework to ensure the safety and well-being of encampment residents while working towards sustainable housing options.
As Montreal’s mayoral candidates outline their proposals to tackle homelessness and encampments, the focus remains on increasing funding, enhancing supervision of encampment conditions, and providing more resources for frontline workers. Various parties offer distinct approaches, from imposing moratoriums on encampment dismantling to increasing property taxes on affluent homeowners to combat homelessness.