(Montreal) Quebec is experiencing a significant increase in the number of homeless people, and the lack of housing is contributing to this. Given the glaring problems related to homelessness, Québec Solidaire (QS) is calling on the Legault government to present a common strategy on homelessness and housing for 2024.
Posted at 11:56 am.
In a statement released Sunday morning, QS said resources cannot afford to solve the homelessness crisis alone. He emphasizes that in Quebec we see camps almost everywhere and that there is a lack of space in emergency shelters.
The training reports on camps in cities such as Joliette, Drummondville, Granby, Trois-Rivières, Rouyn-Noranda and Saint-Georges.
Taschenreau MP Etienne Grandmont claims that the increase in the number of homeless people is directly linked to the housing crisis, which he says the Coalition Avenir Québec has exacerbated.
He therefore calls on Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau and Social Services Minister Lionel Carmantde to remedy the situation by presenting a joint action strategy on homelessness and housing.
According to the latest data on homelessness from the Department of Health and Human Services, the number of visible homeless people — the most common form of homelessness, which is people living on the streets or in shelters — fell overall from 5,789 in 2018 of Quebec to 10,000 people as of October 2023.
In its 2022 report entitled “Homelessness in Quebec – second portrait,” the Ministry of Health and Human Services recognizes that there is a connection between the housing crisis and homelessness.
“The problems associated with housing commercialization and property speculation, which reduce the availability of affordable housing, waiting lists for social and affordable housing, urgent housing needs and effort [part du revenu] “Expenses related to paying rent and evictions can be seen as contributing factors to homelessness,” the report said.