As the campaign for Montreal’s municipal elections heats up, mayoral candidates are presenting their plans to tackle the homelessness crisis, which they describe as “urgent” and “a priority.” But what do the people directly affected think?
“Wonderful!” Upon entering the cafeteria at the Old Brewery Mission, Jean-Christophe is visibly excited to talk about the municipal elections. “I have so much to say about this!” he exclaims.
Marking the occasion, he wears a suit jacket over his sweatshirt. His broad smile shines through his beard, and his green eyes sparkle with excitement. Coffee in hand, he sits down at the table, apologizing for being slightly late.
Jean-Christophe, 35, has been experiencing homelessness since last December “after a separation.” After staying briefly with an acquaintance, he arrived at the Old Brewery Mission in September, an organization that supports people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
He immediately dives into the elections, the main focus of our meeting, which he had prepared for the day before. “I’m pretty up to date on all this,” he tells us over the hum of the coffee machine. “I read the Journal de Montréal and La Presse every day,” he adds enthusiastically, along with “the candidates’ platforms.” Jean-Christophe follows the news out of interest but also to understand what mayoral candidates propose to tackle the homelessness crisis.
For him, politicians are not doing enough to address what he calls an “enormous crisis.” “Where are the actions?” he asks, hands in the air. “They say they’ve invested money, but where did it go? The situation is still as serious as ever,” he laments. Jean-Christophe has high expectations for mayoral hopefuls and hopes they will place homelessness at the top of their “priority list.”
“I don’t feel like the candidates are really talking about homelessness—they’re busy arguing on Facebook,” says Vicky, whom we meet in her Saint-Henri apartment. She greets us dressed all in beige, wearing large glasses that reveal her blue eyes. A mother of four, she experienced homelessness “for three intense years” and struggled with drug addiction.
She now lives with her young son in social housing and works as a cook at a college. Sitting on her couch, she keeps an eye on her son playing in the living room while reflecting on homelessness in Montreal and the expectations she has for the elections.
Housing as a Priority
“Something we absolutely need is housing,” Jean-Christophe says gravely. “You can want to get people off the streets all you want, but if there’s no housing, what’s the solution?”
For the people we spoke with, budgets allocated to homelessness should be invested primarily in transitional and social housing. “That’s what helped me,” Vicky says, who spent several years in transitional housing, using the time to “work on my mental health,” “address my addiction,” and “start looking for a job.” She stresses that transitional housing is essential to “have the time to seek resources.”
She also emphasizes social housing, especially for low-income people or those leaving homelessness. “It’s not true that people living on minimum wage get by,” she says, particularly in a context where “housing in Montreal is very expensive.”
Homelessness and Public Space
The presence of homeless people in public spaces is sometimes questioned in political and media discourse, often framed around residents’ safety and comfort. Last spring, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) banned loitering in the metro to reduce users’ growing sense of insecurity.
For Vicky, people experiencing homelessness should be “left alone,” as they are “adults and vaccinated.” She does note that some behaviors are unsafe, particularly involving drug use. “I encourage my son to say hello to homeless people, but I don’t want him to witness drug-related situations,” she says. She adds that seeing drug use in the street “threatens my sobriety.”
Jean-Christophe believes homeless people “aren’t dangerous,” though some may experience crises. “They’re human beings like everyone else,” he reminds us. Regarding residents who want to preserve their “peace,” Jean-Christophe believes the solution is to offer resources rather than just “push people out of these neighborhoods.”
Candidates' platforms
Mayoral candidates in Montreal describe the homelessness crisis either as a “priority” or an “emergency.” What do they propose?
Projet Montréal – Led by mayoral candidate Luc Rabouin – plans to build 500 modular units and 500 transitional homes for vulnerable people. The party also intends to double funding for community organizations working on homelessness.
Ensemble Montréal – Soraya Martinez Ferrada’s party – promises to develop 2,000 transitional and permanent housing units and create “small shelters” across the city. Funding for homelessness would triple to $30M per year. The party also wants to end street tents and ensure “harmonious” and “safe” cohabitation between homeless people and residents.
Transition Montréal – Craig Sauvé’s party – plans to declare a state of emergency to requisition hotels and vacant buildings for temporary winter shelter. The party would ban camp dismantling and police intervention while establishing community and social services. Funding for homelessness organizations would also triple.
Action Montréal – Led by Gilbert Thibodeau – proposes better coordination between organizations and using religious spaces as temporary shelters.
Listening to People Experiencing Homelessness
“If they really follow through on their programs, maybe we’ll start seeing a light at the end of the tunnel,” hopes Jean-Christophe. He finds several proposals “interesting,” such as investing $30M a year in the fight against homelessness, but only if “the money goes to the right place.”
Vicky welcomes the idea of not dismantling camps. “I’d say they should be tolerated, rather than encouraged,” she clarifies, while also stressing the need to develop support resources in parallel.
Beyond programs, both Jean-Christophe and Vicky emphasize the importance of listening to those affected. “It’s good to talk about homelessness, but it’s also important to talk with homeless people,” says the Old Brewery Mission resident. “Invite them to your city council and listen to their ideas,” he suggests to future elected officials, who will only then understand “the real issues.”
“I think solutions come from us,” Vicky asserts, hoping to share her many suggestions with municipal leaders.
Support and Care Are Key
Before housing, Vicky insists, homeless people need “care.” She advocates for better access to mental health and addiction services, a crucial step to “get out of the streets.” “It’s been five years since I last used,” she says proudly. But the path to sobriety has been—and remains—difficult.
Regarding camp dismantling debates, Jean-Christophe believes this is not the main issue. What matters most is the support offered outside the camps. “If you send someone into housing without addressing their addiction, there’s a 50% chance they’ll end up back in a camp soon,” he explains. Politicians need to account for the long process required to exit homelessness and therefore “invest in the necessary resources.”
Beyond available support, Vicky notes that no one can be forced to leave homelessness. “If the person isn’t ready, it won’t work. I left the streets and substance use several times before returning because I wasn’t mentally ready.”
Facing political rhetoric that promises to solve homelessness at all costs, Vicky adds, “We’d like everyone to get out, but it’s not always possible. I know it sounds harsh.”
Fear and Hope
Regardless, Montreal’s next mayor “will have a huge job to do!” exclaims Vicky. Even though she hasn’t yet seen politicians who have truly made a difference, she hopes that the “new faces” in municipal politics will make a difference in the fight against homelessness. “I try to believe in people,” she adds with a smile.
“If I could speak to the candidates, I’d ask them to keep their campaign promises,” says Jean-Christophe. “Over four years, if you invest as much as you promise, it can definitely change something.”
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