To deal with the issues raised by the increasingly visible presence of homeless people, the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (MHM) borough will set up a team of social workers, in addition to investing $1.3 million dollars in four projects aimed at improving social coexistence.
“Homeless people are more visible in the neighborhood,” notes Alia Hassan-Cournol, municipal councilor for the Maisonneuve–Longue-Pointe district. “As they find resources to help them, homeless people are attracted here and this causes friction with the inhabitants of the area, especially near certain metro stations. »
The counselor points out that several organizations in the neighborhood help people with substance abuse and consumption problems, sex workers, asylum seekers and other vulnerable clienteles.
To promote coexistence with the neighborhood’s population, the City of Montreal has decided to deploy its Mobile Mediation and Social Intervention Team (EMMIS), made up of workers whose mandate is to act quickly to defuse situations of crisis, distress and conflict in the public space, in addition to accompanying vulnerable people to safe resources.
This team, currently made up of 32 workers, is already active in three other boroughs: Ville-Marie, Sud-Ouest and Plateau-Mont-Royal. Ultimately, the City’s goal is to serve the entire territory of Montreal thanks to an investment of $50 million over the next five years, announced jointly with the Ministry of Public Security.
To “increase the social inclusion of homeless people and improve social cohabitation in the public space”, the City also announced that it would contribute $1.3 million to fund four projects by CAP St-Barnabé community organizations. , L’Anonyme, Exeko and Cirque Hors Piste.
We are talking, for example, of a project to promote the employability of young people, of activities to improve the sense of security of the population of the district and of a cleanliness brigade.
Additionally, M.me Hassan-Cournol announced the extension of the lease of the shelter for the homeless l’Étape, located in the basement of the Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc church, managed by CAP St-Barnabé and financed by the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud- of the Island of Montreal. This extension is temporary, while the City and the CIUSSS find another site for the shelter.
The installation of this resource in a residential area, near Lalancette Park, two years ago, sparked numerous complaints from citizens. CAP St-Barnabé therefore hired security guards to patrol the area.
“But ultimately, the solution to fighting homelessness is for these people to have a roof over their heads. We therefore need our Quebec partners to be there for the addition of social housing, especially in the east of the metropolis, because it is particularly hard, ”underlines Alia Hassan-Cournol, taking up a hammered message to repetition by the administration of Mayor Valérie Plante.