That day, on the escarpment path, a silhouette emerged between the trees.
I jumped. I rarely meet other people in this corner of the mountain. The man was not wearing a sweater. My heart began to beat faster and my steps quickened. Then he said, “I’m sorry. » In his eyes, embarrassment. Maybe even shame. He apologized for scaring me. Or just to exist, I’m not sure.
I noticed his tent and clothes drying nearby. I walked to his house. I assured him that there was no problem, then I continued on my way, also ashamed… I had been afraid of someone used to arousing this feeling in spite of themselves.
Since then, I have seen a few, tents. However, I had seen very few of them in recent years. Maybe my attention was elsewhere, maybe I once walked on more well-trodden paths, maybe vulnerability knows fewer and fewer limits.
The City of Montreal does not have data specifically concerning the situation on Mount Royal, but Serge Lareault, commissioner for people experiencing homelessness, explained to me that “campers” often look for isolated places. With the city center having fewer and fewer vacant lots, the mountains can be an interesting place for those who want to take refuge away from the population.
In The Mountain Prophecies (Éditions Marchand de Feuilles), Pattie O’Green writes about the history of Mount Royal, the rituals that take place there, its fauna and flora, its secrets. The author also reflects on the inequalities that plague the mountainsides: those suffered by runners who fear attackers; the less fortunate who were buried in its two cemeteries; the citizens of Parc-Extension separated from the town of Mont-Royal by a fence, etc. Can now be added to this lot of injustices that experienced by people experiencing homelessness who try to live there…
How can we prevent them from feeling the need to apologize when our eyes meet theirs?
We encourage understanding and solidarity towards people on the street. It’s by talking to each other that we meet.
Serge Lareault, commissioner for people experiencing homelessness at the City of Montreal
Serge Lareault recognizes, however, that it is difficult to take the first steps. “When you come across someone in a crisis or isolated in society, it’s hard to come up and say: ‘Are you okay?’ The divide comes from social difference. We are a housed person… What words do we use with a person who is completely in disarray? »
He recommended that I check out the tool Easy as pie !1, a French initiative. The program, offered online, contains several tips for reaching out to people experiencing homelessness, including icebreaker topics. Serge Lareault hopes that Montreal will soon be able to create a guide of this kind, recognizing however that “the recipe is not miraculous, it is a matter of considering [l’autre] like a normal person.”
Especially since we may have things in common with the person in front of us…
“The shelters tell us they are seeing more and more people employed,” Serge Lareault confirmed to me. Food banks too. Street workers tell me about workers sleeping in their cars…”
It’s difficult to get figures, but there is the emergence of worker homelessness, and it’s something that we didn’t see much of 10 years ago.
Serge Lareault, commissioner for people experiencing homelessness at the City of Montreal
It reminded me of a status recently posted by a young professional on Facebook: “I feel like I have a knife in my throat and am on the verge of being on the street, while the world goes on to go out to restaurants, buy new cars, laundry and plan trips. Chalice, how do you do it? I have a relatively good salary and I afford NO luxuries. My only luxury is to live alone with my boyfriend. What are your miracle solutions? I’m a taker because each paycheck that comes in is completely swallowed up in my expenses in less than 72 hours and I can’t afford it. I’m having anxiety about it, and it’s making me sick. I was able to save, my account is permanently dry, despite the fact that I work like a stone. I’m panicking now. »
Under his publication, more than 60 responses. People recognize each other and share things with others: discount groceries, cell phone plan rearrangement, barter, second job, third job… Between the lines, the fear of an imminent “breakdown”.
The author of the status directed me to other publications of the kind in a private group, to “prove” me[r] at which point the feeling of helplessness begins to spread like wildfire.”
We’re talking about a perfect storm in Montreal, according to Serge Lareault: the cost of rent, their scarcity, the rising cost of living, the lack of addiction and mental health services, the circulation of drugs… Vulnerability s ‘extends.
In this time when fear is synonymous with celebration, it ravages the stomachs of many people who are increasingly short of resources.