Food inflation and the housing crisis are creating a historically difficult situation for vulnerable populations. The organizations that support them, for their part, are at their wit’s end. Claude Pinard, CEO of Centraide, declares a state of emergency.
“Food banks are distributing more food than ever and the requests are constantly increasing,” says Claude Pinard. Another alarm signal: these organizations must call on a growing number of social workers and mental health specialists. Because food assistance is no longer enough, anxiety must also be treated. »
This distress results from the combined effects of food inflation, the housing crisis and the socio-economic gaps created by the pandemic. “The proliferation of aggravating factors is hitting seniors, aboriginals, newcomers and single-parent families hard,” continues the CEO of Centraide. A mother raising her children alone, who used food aid to make ends meet, now needs it from the 15th. To feed her family, she plans to uproot her by moving to less suitable housing , which generates anxiety for all. »
An exceptional situation
Currently, 21% of households living in Greater Montreal have incomes below the $30,000 mark, and they are facing the highest inflation in the last 30 years. The cost of rents has risen to a record high, and the scarcity of affordable and suitable housing continues. “With July 1 approaching, these people could find themselves on the street,” worries Claude Pinard. This crisis situation explains the emergence of the working poor, who can no longer make ends meet on the minimum wage.
A call for generosity
“The needs are immense, and I don’t have to make big speeches to demonstrate that the aid is necessary, and even urgent,” maintains the CEO. He points out that the pandemic has given rise to a collective awakening, which has enabled Centraide to carry out two record campaigns, each generating more than $60 million, paid to 350 mutual aid organizations working directly in the field. “They are out of breath, and they are hit by the labor shortage. Montreal would have collapsed during the pandemic without the community sector, and we must allow it to continue its work,” he said.
Collaborate for the common good
The new CEO, who took office in the summer of 2021, does not want to limit himself to countering the effects of poverty: he wants to tackle its causes by relying on a concerted approach. “I am a follower of radical collaboration: we put the citizen at the center of the problem, we bring together around the table actors who do not normally speak to each other, and we leave the interests of each aside to put their energies at the service of the communities. This is how he intends to tackle the housing crisis, one apartment at a time. It’s time to give Centraide supports people in Greater Montreal in need by supporting essential community organizations that provide them with services. By centralizing the sums paid by more than 98,000 donors, Centraide prevents the duplication of collections and generates significant economies of scale.
To make a donation: centraide-mtl.org
We must help those who help
“According to a survey, 19% of Montreal renters spend more than 50%, and sometimes up to 70%, of their income on housing, and women are overweighted in this statistic. We must solve this problem with current, lasting and sustainable solutions, based on innovative financial arrangements. »
Our mission: to make visible the most important social issues, such as poverty and social exclusion, and to give everyone the means to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable people while building inclusive communities.
This content was produced by Le Devoir’s special publications team in collaboration with the advertiser. Le Devoir’s editorial team had no role in the production of this content.
To learn more about Centraide of Greater Montreal