The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequalities and had a direct impact on the homelessness situation in Montréal. While the number of homeless people has increased, Montréal has stepped up its efforts, in collaboration with its various partners, to fight homelessness more effectively. From the start of its mandate, Projet Montréal has made homelessness a priority and has invested the necessary resources and energy in it. During a second mandate, the Projet Montréal administration will continue to play a leading role, but the city cannot act alone in the face of this shared responsibility. The other levels of government must also increase their logistical and financial assistance to allow Montréal to provide sufficient resources, housing and workers to make sure that no one is left behind.
a.Double the funding in the Ville de Montréal annual budget dedicated to homelessness, increasing it from $3M to $6M, in order to support the establishment of safe and appropriate resources and to better support community organizations that do fieldwork;
b. With community support, develop 300 housing units per year for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness;
c. Support the healthcare system and community organizations in setting up resources with a high threshold of accessibility that take Gender-based Analysis Plus into account, are adapted to the multiple realities of homelessness throughout the city, and meet different needs, including those of Indigenous people, seniors, youth, women and people with disabilities;
d. Support the establishment of resources for people with alcoholism or drug addiction problems, such as supervised alcohol consumption services;
e. Support the establishment of additional emergency shelter sites with a support service working towards housing that will be open year-round, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
f. Develop and implement social coexistence plans with all partners and stakeholders when a new resource opens in a neighbourhood or when the significant presence of homeless people is observed;
g. Develop housing and support the deployment of culturally appropriate resources (emergency accommodations, drop-in centres, warming stations, social intervention, etc.) for Indigenous people experiencing homelessness, particularly near Milton Park, Cabot Square and the corner of Mont-Royal and Saint-Denis.