What were some of the highlights of Montreal’s press conference on homelessness?
Heather Johnston, President/CEO of Projets Autochtones Quebec said there is an importance to leave behind seasonal logic and find permanent solutions.
During the pandemic, emergency services have opened during the winter to house the homeless, but as reopening has often occurred around springtime, the services closed, leaving homeless people on the streets of Montreal.
Johnson said there is a need for 24/7 resources that are adapted for and that support women, youth and indigenous communities.
Sonia Cote, director of Chaînon, which offers support and housing to women in difficult situations said emergency measures are inefficient and do not help long-term
She added that organizations such as Chainon, Accueil bono, la maison du père temporarily enhances the services to get women and men out of precarious situations.
Cote said there is a need for stabilization of resources for more than 3 months at a time, so that they could constructively go further with their plan to support vulnerable people
Valerie Plante said the city of Montreal’s role is to find places and to coordinate activities.
However, she stated that it is the responsibility of the Government of Quebec to fund and set goals since they are in charge of health, and therefore in charge of homelessness.
She added that the city of Montreal is still aiming to develop social housing units and that MTL is to get out of seasonal logic to provide full time services.
A journalist asked if ending seasonal logic could have prevented the death of two unhoused individuals that died in January, Plante responded that there will never be one solution – its impossible, complex subject. She said that if there were better options for people regarding housing, there would be less ppl sleeping in the streets.
Sonia Cote added that there is a need for specialized teams that might help prevention and through this, it could have been avoided.
Johnson said it’s a complex subject, but if the homeless had a place and had support, they wouldn’t have been in the streets.
When asked by a journalist how resources like hotels could be made permanent, Plante responded that there are other places that could be used or created. She said if hotels are opened to it, it could be done, but if not, other spaces can be made.
The Raphael Napa Andre Tent, which rests in Cabot Square, was opened after the death of homeless man Raphael Andre, who died during the first curfew in Milton Parc. The tent only has funding until March 31st.
Plante said the tent is definitely a necessity and the city is in discussion with partners to create permanent sites. She said, however, the tent will most likely not be made a permanent fixture. She said it answers some of the needs for unhoused people, but it is small.
Source: https://www.commediaportal.ca/en/media/montreal-wants-provide-year-long-services-homeless-people
