The Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, announces $15.5 million in new money to deal with the significant increase in homelessness in Quebec.
This amount aims to consolidate and offer places in shelters in preparation for the winter.
A report from the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec indicates a 44% increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness compared to 2018.
Minister Carmant indicated that he expected such an increase.
The report specifies that homelessness, although still very present in Montreal, has become regionalized.
The shortage of affordable housing and COVID-19 are causes identified in the report for the increase in homelessness.
The report states that the fact of having been “evicted from one’s accommodation, whether for non-payment of rent, repossession of accommodation or any other reason” is a factor which contributes to the precariousness of certain people at risk of homelessness.
Eviction is also the main reason given for the loss of housing.
To watch on video