Homeless people in search of listening
Makeshift camps are reappearing all over the city. More and more people experiencing homelessness are waiting for help from the next Montreal administration, out of sight of passers-by and police.
Frédéric Lefebvre built his “hut” not far from the old camp on rue Notre-Dame. Leaving the street is not an option for him, because he lives there by choice. He needs psychological help, access to water and more visits to a meals-on-wheels. “Politicians should understand that there are different types of homeless,” he says. “Each person is different and each person should have a different follow-up. Someone who is schizophrenic does not have the same needs as someone who is drugged, or someone who has just lost everything suddenly. "
Promises of more housing will not be enough, he believes, because it takes more to get someone off the streets for good. “You give accommodation to a homeless person and, a month later, he will lose it,” says one who has “lodged” at 25 different addresses in nearly 40 years. “We often talk about 'homeless'. I have a cabin. Am I homeless? "
Further on, Leo does not expect much from the electoral campaign either. Hidden for six years under a Montreal viaduct, it survives with a bed, a cardboard rug and cups of coffee as a backdrop.
However, he has good words for Mayor Plante. Some "short-term" improvements have made her daily life easier , such as adding temporary shelters and more money for popular canteens. But large drop-ins are not suitable for people like him, who might get by. “Other homeless people can be violent,” he says. “It's safer to be alone. Putting hundreds of people in a building is not the solution. "
Frédéric Lefebvre built his “hut” not far from the old camp on rue Notre-Dame. Leaving the street is not an option for him, because he lives there by choice. He needs psychological help, access to water and more visits to a meals-on-wheels. “Politicians should understand that there are different types of homeless,” he says. “Each person is different and each person should have a different follow-up. Someone who is schizophrenic does not have the same needs as someone who is drugged, or someone who has just lost everything suddenly. "
Promises of more housing will not be enough, he believes, because it takes more to get someone off the streets for good. “You give accommodation to a homeless person and, a month later, he will lose it,” says one who has “lodged” at 25 different addresses in nearly 40 years. “We often talk about 'homeless'. I have a cabin. Am I homeless? "
Further on, Leo does not expect much from the electoral campaign either. Hidden for six years under a Montreal viaduct, it survives with a bed, a cardboard rug and cups of coffee as a backdrop.
However, he has good words for Mayor Plante. Some "short-term" improvements have made her daily life easier , such as adding temporary shelters and more money for popular canteens. But large drop-ins are not suitable for people like him, who might get by. “Other homeless people can be violent,” he says. “It's safer to be alone. Putting hundreds of people in a building is not the solution. "
More direct access to government money would help him, although he does not see how he would pay for himself these days. “I couldn't afford housing, even if I was on welfare,” he observes.
More than 3,000 people live without a fixed address in Montreal, according to estimates from community organizations.
The plan of seven community organizations
A first “long-term” plan to fight homelessness was unveiled last week by the seven largest community organizations that meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness. They hope to break the “cycle of perpetual emergencies” that currently characterizes their work.
“We have a way of doing things that dates back a hundred years: offering soup and a night's sleep to people in emergency situations,” Sam Watts, President and CEO of Mission Bon Accueil , told Le Devoir .
These “temporary” solutions do not allow people to be taken off the streets, he argues with his colleagues. Thus, the number of places in emergency accommodation will decrease from 600 to 200 by 2026. In return, the shelters should remain open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. This schedule is already in effect at the residences of the Hotel. -God.
"The services provided must be designed to meet the specific needs of populations at risk, such as the indigenous community, and must be designed in such a way as to promote integration into the neighborhoods of the city where the needs are found", specify the organizations in the document entitled “Un Pas de Plus”.
Sam Watts relies on close collaboration with the next mayor to fight this growing scourge. "With the status of a metropolis, we have the powers to take charge of the situation and to seek the resources which are essential to respond to the crisis," he assures us.
The Bon Accueil Mission, the Old Brewery Mission, the Maison du Père, Accueil Bonneau, CARE Montreal, Q
uebec Native Projects and CAP Saint-Barnabé are co-signing this five-year plan.
THE PROMISES OF THE CANDIDATES
Valérie Plante: Projet Montréal has not yet unveiled its platform or its roaming commitments. The mayor has, however, already promised the construction of 60,000 affordable housing units in the coming years to facilitate access to property.
Denis Coderre: The head of Ensemble Montréal promises to buy a hotel with around 30 rooms to convert it into accommodation for homeless people. This acquisition valued at $ 10 million would result from a partnership between the City of Montreal and the hotel sector. Ensemble Montréal is also calling for the extension of winter measures in shelters, an increase in budgets for community organizations and an increase in the number of mixed police-social worker teams.
Balarama Holness: The leader of Mouvement Montréal undertakes to "suspend the eviction orders from temporary housing camps until the city reaches a sufficient level of social housing". It also plans to build 6,000 “supervised housing” for vulnerable people, including people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Marc-Antoine Desjardins: Ralliement pour Montréal is proposing a “multi-stakeholder project to end homelessness”. A mixed team of police officers and social workers, "including Aboriginal police and social workers or trained in different Aboriginal cultures", will "better understand the issues at the base". Updating the municipal register on homelessness and reaffirming the “vocation of social reintegration” of shelters are also part of the party's program.
More than 3,000 people live without a fixed address in Montreal, according to estimates from community organizations.
The plan of seven community organizations
A first “long-term” plan to fight homelessness was unveiled last week by the seven largest community organizations that meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness. They hope to break the “cycle of perpetual emergencies” that currently characterizes their work.
“We have a way of doing things that dates back a hundred years: offering soup and a night's sleep to people in emergency situations,” Sam Watts, President and CEO of Mission Bon Accueil , told Le Devoir .
These “temporary” solutions do not allow people to be taken off the streets, he argues with his colleagues. Thus, the number of places in emergency accommodation will decrease from 600 to 200 by 2026. In return, the shelters should remain open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. This schedule is already in effect at the residences of the Hotel. -God.
"The services provided must be designed to meet the specific needs of populations at risk, such as the indigenous community, and must be designed in such a way as to promote integration into the neighborhoods of the city where the needs are found", specify the organizations in the document entitled “Un Pas de Plus”.
Sam Watts relies on close collaboration with the next mayor to fight this growing scourge. "With the status of a metropolis, we have the powers to take charge of the situation and to seek the resources which are essential to respond to the crisis," he assures us.
The Bon Accueil Mission, the Old Brewery Mission, the Maison du Père, Accueil Bonneau, CARE Montreal, Q
uebec Native Projects and CAP Saint-Barnabé are co-signing this five-year plan.
THE PROMISES OF THE CANDIDATES
Valérie Plante: Projet Montréal has not yet unveiled its platform or its roaming commitments. The mayor has, however, already promised the construction of 60,000 affordable housing units in the coming years to facilitate access to property.
Denis Coderre: The head of Ensemble Montréal promises to buy a hotel with around 30 rooms to convert it into accommodation for homeless people. This acquisition valued at $ 10 million would result from a partnership between the City of Montreal and the hotel sector. Ensemble Montréal is also calling for the extension of winter measures in shelters, an increase in budgets for community organizations and an increase in the number of mixed police-social worker teams.
Balarama Holness: The leader of Mouvement Montréal undertakes to "suspend the eviction orders from temporary housing camps until the city reaches a sufficient level of social housing". It also plans to build 6,000 “supervised housing” for vulnerable people, including people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Marc-Antoine Desjardins: Ralliement pour Montréal is proposing a “multi-stakeholder project to end homelessness”. A mixed team of police officers and social workers, "including Aboriginal police and social workers or trained in different Aboriginal cultures", will "better understand the issues at the base". Updating the municipal register on homelessness and reaffirming the “vocation of social reintegration” of shelters are also part of the party's program.
LEDEVOIR
Jean-Louis Bordeleau
https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/635694/des-itinerants-en-quete-d-ecoute?utm_source=infolettre-2021-09-27&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=infolettre-quotidienne
Jean-Louis Bordeleau
https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/635694/des-itinerants-en-quete-d-ecoute?utm_source=infolettre-2021-09-27&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=infolettre-quotidienne