Two wins against homelessness, but we need more!

The Fréchette government’s first measure consists in expanding the Rent Supplement Program (PSL). It will allow people at imminent risk of homelessness to pay a rent capped at 25% of their income. With this measure, the government is acknowledging that a tenant's financial fragility is the breaking point that leads to the loss of a home. With a $21 million envelope targeting Montreal, Quebec City and Gatineau, attempts are being made to fill the gaps.

The second measure, a $7 million boost for the Programme de réaffiliation en itinérance, santé mentale et dépendance (PRISMD), supports the fieldwork of the Old Brewery Mission and its partners in Montreal. The program is essential because it offers 8 to 12 weeks of stability with continuous care. Intended for people with serious and persistent mental health or addiction disorders, it is a valuable tool for people the traditional healthcare system struggles to support.
Worth mentioning, too, is the pilot project launched last February at the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL). Thanks to a $1 million envelope, our counsellors can now identify tenants on the cusp of eviction to offer them emergency financial assistance and support. This presence at the TAL is crucial: once a citizen crosses over the threshold into emergency housing, the risk of chronicity explodes. Early intervention is not a luxury; it is a necessity.

Despite the appropriateness of these “wins,” they will not significantly reduce homelessness’s growth, particularly in areas outside of the major cities. If we truly want to achieve the objective of a substantial reduction in homelessness, the government must undertake four structural reforms that we have long been calling for to prevent the next crop of citizens from entering the cycle of homelessness:

The right to housing in the Charter: Following Finland’s successful lead, Quebec must explicitly incorporate the right to housing in its Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. Without this legal basis, housing will always be merchandise rather than a fundamental need, leaving the neediest without recourse in the face of speculation.

Prevent discharge from public institutions into homelessness: It is unacceptable that citizens are leaving prison, a psychiatric hospital or youth protection without a housing plan. The public authorities must guarantee that people at risk are identified and, to ensure they reintegrate into society, offer them support before they step out the door.

Oppose evictions and strengthen access to justice: A rental market that is haphazardly governed directly fuels homelessness. That is why it is essential to consolidate protection mechanisms for tenants.

Reach a target of 20% non-market housing: We are facing a marked imbalance between the private offer and the crying need for affordable housing. I say it again: we must make social and community housing 20% of our housing stock.

It is by embracing this long-term vision that we will become better equipped to address homelessness, by acting on its causes. We welcome the measures promised by the Quebec government. However, this progress should not be considered as an end in itself, but as a first milestone. Without the structural reforms we are proposing, the announced funding will only slow the fall, without ever stopping the bleeding.

James Hughes
President and CEO of the Old Brewery Mission