Quebec Budget and Homelessness. Gaps Have Been Closed, but the Hard Work Remains

In a context where precarity is gaining ground, we welcome the government’s willingness to maintain certain safety nets. But though the measures will fill urgent gaps, they are not yet the structural shift Quebec needs to reverse the spiral of homelessness.

Meaningful Gains in Prevention and in Maintenance of Essential Programs

One of the positive signs in the budget is the enhancement of the evictions prevention program (PETAL), which has been allocated $27 M over five years. The program, whose main partners are the Old Brewery Mission and the Maison du Père, exemplifies the proactivity we need. By intervening directly at the Tribunal administrative du logement (TAL) to identify tenants at risk before they lose their homes, we are acting at the source. It is a clear acknowledgment that the fight against homelessness starts long before the street.

Furthermore, the granting of $25 million to offset the conclusion of a federal program will provide a much-needed lifeline for many organizations. The compensation will stabilize direct services and personalized support in the short term, avoiding the service disruptions that are catastrophic for vulnerable people.

When Ambition Clashes With the Reality on the Ground

The budget also provides for $21.4 million over three years for 1000 new units under the Rent Supplement Program (PSL). Though the measure is welcome, it is only a half measure: we need at least 10,000 new units to meet the minimum needs for off-market housing across Quebec.

We can acknowledge this progress, but one observation remains: the government is managing the crisis more than it is resolving it. To bring about a lasting transformation, Quebec must move from reactive measures to structuring investments. We cannot end homelessness without a massive offensive aimed at prevention and lasting reintegration:

• Homelessness prevention: Prevention must be the basis of our action on homelessness. Intervening upstream prevents hundreds of people from ending up on the streets. We can do much better, most particularly by setting up a mandatory rental registry, by giving temporary financial help to households at risk of losing their homes and by systematically supporting the people who leave public institutions.

• Off-market housing: We recall the need for an ambitious plan to develop 10,000 new units per year to attain the target of 20% off-market housing. Housing can no longer be treated as a simple commodity, but rather as essential social infrastructure. Planning for 1000 new units of affordable housing is clearly insufficient.

• Community support: Building walls is, of course, essential. We must nevertheless provide ongoing funding for housing support services, particularly for clienteles with complex mental health and addiction needs.

• Municipal agility: Cities are on the front lines. They need specific funds to roll out adapted action plans, especially for the glaring realty of encampments.

From Residential Stability to Dignity Restored

The real effectiveness of policies is not measured by the amounts invested, but by our capacity to prevent the upheaval that losing a home represents. The government must shift from emergency management toward fundamental transformation. By offering permanent solutions to those whose lives are marked by trauma, mental health issues, or structural challenges, Quebec can finally prevent, reduce, and end homelessness on a lasting basis.

It is high time that such strong leadership is demonstrated.

James Hughes
President and CEO, Old Brewery Mission