Homelessness in the downtown core: We must house, care and innovate

Increase in homelessness

Montreal had 4,700 homeless people in 2022. That was a 33% increase from 2018 and the numbers have continued to rise since then.

The deteriorating situation is due to a combination of factors, including the shortage of affordable housing and a critical lack of access to appropriate health services. It will take years to build the thousands of affordable housing units needed in Montreal to ease the shortage. What should we do in the meantime?

The housing challenge: Coexistence can work!

For some years, the Old Brewery Mission has been setting up and managing residences across the city. There’s Tenaquip Place in Lachine, the Mirella and Lino Saputo Pavilion in Saint-Michel, the Lise Watier Pavilion in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, and Les Voisines de Lartigue on the Plateau.

These residences coexist harmoniously with their neighbours. Residents enjoy a safe and welcoming environment, community activities and assistance from an on-site support team. In this stable environment, they can finally envision a secure future.

About 44% of people experiencing visible homelessness in Montreal are aged 50 and over. If we are able to complete the acquisition of the property in Chinatown, our proposed new residential project will provide decent housing for 60 vulnerable seniors, with on-site support from our staff, in a neighbourhood where few rental options are available. That’s 60 seniors who won’t end up on the streets. We are also exploring the possibility of providing space in the same building for community organizations serving local residents. We have discussed this project with many stakeholders in the community.

The healthcare challenge: Providing the missing link

People experiencing chronic homelessness are often underserved by the healthcare system. The lack of care is a major obstacle to achieving stable housing. Accessible, appropriate and compassionate local care and services are therefore essential.

The purpose of this project is to provide a small piece of the solution to homelessness. This is something we can do by strengthening support for the most vulnerable people and helping them access appropriate care and services. We need to harness everyone’s expertise. The details of this project are still being finalized but there are no plans for a supervised injection site at the facility.

Given the challenges that people experiencing homelessness currently face in accessing healthcare, it is important to create appropriate facilities to avoid revolving-door care and reduce the pressure on hospitals.

The status quo is not sustainable

It must be recognized that Montreal is in a tough spot. Many members of the business community, community organizations and the public want action on homelessness. This is encouraging.

Expanding healthcare and housing services is essential to reverse the rise in homelessness and ensure the safety of our public spaces. Downtown residents have legitimate concerns about safety, but doing nothing is not an option.

Projects aimed at providing better housing, healthcare and support for vulnerable people are not a threat but a proven solution that benefits the entire community. The Old Brewery Mission is committed to continuing its conversations with local residents and maintaining an open dialogue, as it has done successfully elsewhere.

Faced with the homelessness crisis, we as a society need to choose: build walls or build bridges. At the Old Brewery Mission, we believe that the true greatness of a society is measured by its ability to leave no one behind. This is an ambitious goal, but one that we must strive to achieve.