Opposition urges Quebec to do more
Martin Damphousse, President of the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ) and mayor of Varennes, insists that municipalities "try to meet the needs of their communities" as best they can within the limits of their powers and budgetary capacities.
Makeshift shelters have taken on an unprecedented scale in Quebec, and not only in Montreal, it was revealed on Monday.
More than 600 encampments were dismantled last year and another 126 are known but not dismantled by the authorities, according to unpublished data obtained from 20 cities and towns.
"Beyond the costs, it is necessary to have a global vision and close collaboration between all partners in order to improve access to services for people experiencing homelessness," says the UMQ president, who wants an inclusive and supportive strategy.
The CAQ singled outIn Quebec City, opposition parties accuse François Legault's government of not doing enough to curb the housing crisis; the increase in homeless encampments resulting from the crisis.
Homeless encampment in Longueuil
Official Opposition Critic for the Fight Against Homelessness, Elisabeth Prass believes that encampments should not be dismantled if the Ministry of Health and Social Services and cities are unable to offer alternative housing.
Rather than dismantling these camps, the government should quickly mobilize additional resources by providing basic services to people experiencing homelessness in order to improve their daily lives.
Elisabeth Prass, Liberal MP
"At least with the encampments," workers can reach homeless people who need their services, says the Official Opposition critic for the fight against homelessness.
The record number of encampments revealed by La Presse is "proof that the [Coalition Avenir Québec] government is not taking the housing crisis seriously enough," said Alexandre Leduc of Québec solidaire (QS).
Police officer inspecting a homeless encampment in Sherbrooke
Because "the fundamental problem" that makes so many people find themselves living in tents "is the housing crisis," the Solidarity MP said.
While Bill 31 on housing has still not been adopted in Quebec City, "it is not too late to amend it to include solutions to the crisis such as the creation of a rent register," suggests Mr. Leduc.
For his part, Joël Arseneau, Parti Québécois (PQ) critic for health and social services, pointed to "the CAQ's inability to recognize and then act in the face of the housing crisis that has exacerbated the situation throughout Quebec."
Homeless encampment in Montreal
"The homelessness crisis that is currently underway across Quebec is extremely worrisome and continues to grow," continued the PQ MNA. The number of visible homeless people in Quebec has doubled since the CAQ came to power in 2018, a phenomenon that will unfortunately continue to increase as long as we settle for half-measures and perpetual crisis management. The Quebec government must set itself the goal of achieving zero homelessness, the PQ believes, suggesting, among other things, tripling the amounts allocated to the fight against homelessness in the various government programs, in addition to starting "a vast construction project for social housing."
Quebec defends its workThe office of the Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, defends the government's work.
"Ensuring that the most vulnerable people have a roof over their heads and that they benefit from the best possible services is a priority," said his press secretary, Lambert Drainville, in an email to La Presse. He recalled that in 2021, Minister Carmant presented the first national plan to combat homelessness with a budget of $280 million.
Last November, Drainville added, the CAQ announced an additional $123 million in homelessness, "sums that have already allowed the addition of hundreds of shelter spaces before the arrival of winter and that will allow us to continue to add new resources in all regions of Quebec," he said.
"We continue to closely monitor the situation of homelessness and to work jointly with the CI(U)SSS and municipalities to take coordinated action," said Minister Carmant's office. In the long term, the solution will inevitably involve more transitional and supportive housing spaces, in order to be able to bring vulnerable people back to housing and, at the same time, free up shelter beds.
We are working on it, all together in government. »
Makeshift shelters have taken on an unprecedented scale in Quebec, and not only in Montreal, it was revealed on Monday.
More than 600 encampments were dismantled last year and another 126 are known but not dismantled by the authorities, according to unpublished data obtained from 20 cities and towns.
"Beyond the costs, it is necessary to have a global vision and close collaboration between all partners in order to improve access to services for people experiencing homelessness," says the UMQ president, who wants an inclusive and supportive strategy.
The CAQ singled outIn Quebec City, opposition parties accuse François Legault's government of not doing enough to curb the housing crisis; the increase in homeless encampments resulting from the crisis.
Homeless encampment in Longueuil
Official Opposition Critic for the Fight Against Homelessness, Elisabeth Prass believes that encampments should not be dismantled if the Ministry of Health and Social Services and cities are unable to offer alternative housing.
Rather than dismantling these camps, the government should quickly mobilize additional resources by providing basic services to people experiencing homelessness in order to improve their daily lives.
Elisabeth Prass, Liberal MP
"At least with the encampments," workers can reach homeless people who need their services, says the Official Opposition critic for the fight against homelessness.
The record number of encampments revealed by La Presse is "proof that the [Coalition Avenir Québec] government is not taking the housing crisis seriously enough," said Alexandre Leduc of Québec solidaire (QS).
Police officer inspecting a homeless encampment in Sherbrooke
Because "the fundamental problem" that makes so many people find themselves living in tents "is the housing crisis," the Solidarity MP said.
While Bill 31 on housing has still not been adopted in Quebec City, "it is not too late to amend it to include solutions to the crisis such as the creation of a rent register," suggests Mr. Leduc.
For his part, Joël Arseneau, Parti Québécois (PQ) critic for health and social services, pointed to "the CAQ's inability to recognize and then act in the face of the housing crisis that has exacerbated the situation throughout Quebec."
Homeless encampment in Montreal
"The homelessness crisis that is currently underway across Quebec is extremely worrisome and continues to grow," continued the PQ MNA. The number of visible homeless people in Quebec has doubled since the CAQ came to power in 2018, a phenomenon that will unfortunately continue to increase as long as we settle for half-measures and perpetual crisis management. The Quebec government must set itself the goal of achieving zero homelessness, the PQ believes, suggesting, among other things, tripling the amounts allocated to the fight against homelessness in the various government programs, in addition to starting "a vast construction project for social housing."
Quebec defends its workThe office of the Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, defends the government's work.
"Ensuring that the most vulnerable people have a roof over their heads and that they benefit from the best possible services is a priority," said his press secretary, Lambert Drainville, in an email to La Presse. He recalled that in 2021, Minister Carmant presented the first national plan to combat homelessness with a budget of $280 million.
Last November, Drainville added, the CAQ announced an additional $123 million in homelessness, "sums that have already allowed the addition of hundreds of shelter spaces before the arrival of winter and that will allow us to continue to add new resources in all regions of Quebec," he said.
"We continue to closely monitor the situation of homelessness and to work jointly with the CI(U)SSS and municipalities to take coordinated action," said Minister Carmant's office. In the long term, the solution will inevitably involve more transitional and supportive housing spaces, in order to be able to bring vulnerable people back to housing and, at the same time, free up shelter beds.
We are working on it, all together in government. »
