Opposition at Montreal’s city hall is requesting that the Plante administration in Côte-des-Neiges–NDG address the increase in those living in situations of homelessness in the borough.
Stéphanie Valenzuela, with Ensemble Montréal, is putting forward a motion at the next borough council meeting to have support for a 24/7 emergency shelter with a rehousing assistance service.
“A lot of issues that have been taking place in our society have amplified the visibility of homelessness in our borough,” stated Valenzuela.
“Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce is the most populous borough on the island of Montreal and despite this fact, we don’t have any resources available on the ground to help our most vulnerable populations.”
The goal would be to seek funding from the provincial government to open a facility before next winter. Côte-des-Neiges–NDG had a nighttime shelter during winter months that closed its doors on March 31st.
Already there are signs of social cohabitation in the area with its closure as at least one tent has been set up across the street in Martin Luther King Park.
“Where does the population of homeless people go? Well, they go in public spaces, they go to the park and Martin Luther King Park has been living this reality for at least the last five years,” explained Valenzuela.
During the winter, the nighttime homeless shelter housed on average 47 people per night. Photos taken by councillor Valenzuela show the encampment set up in the same park last summer.
She says that other areas of the neighourhood such as a McDonald’s on Chemin de la Côte-des-Nieges and the Snowdon Metro station are also places where the homeless population gathers.
“We know that we have an unprecedented housing crisis which lacks accommodation, that current resources are overflowing, it is clear that we will need more 24-7 accommodation. And we will see the phenomenon of encampments multiply in the coming months and years,” said Annie Savage, Réseau d’aide aux personnes seules et itinérantes de Montréal (RAPSIM) in French.
Elisabeth Prass, the MNA for d’Arcy-McGee said that she recently spoke to Quebec’s Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant and that he said he awaits a formal proposal for a 24/7 homeless shelter in Côte-des-Neiges.
“Minister Carmant agreed that that was the solution and that he was waiting for the city of Côte-des-Neiges–NDG to deposit a project with a location and an organization to help manage that project and I will be bringing it to his attention once the city goes forth with that proposal,” said Prass.
CityNews reached out to the Projet Montréal borough mayor and three Projet Montréal city councillors for Côte-des-Neiges–NDG for a comment, but have not heard back at this time.
“The local administration of Mayor Kasoki Katahwa has not shown any interest to do anything else other than to act in the optic of seasonal measures,” said Valenzuela.