Montreal city officials have rejected a recommendation from a recent report to halt the dismantling of homeless encampments. While officials acknowledged that dismantling encampments is a “last resort,” they defended it as necessary to ensure safety around these sites. The 300-page report, published by Montreal’s public consultation office, emphasized a significant lack of resources for the city’s homeless population and recommended stopping encampment clearings until a policy is developed to regulate them. The report also proposed improving conditions at encampments by adding services like water, toilets, and waste collection.
City officials, however, argued that such measures had failed elsewhere, citing Vancouver’s experience. Robert Beaudry, the city’s executive committee member responsible for homelessness, stressed that Montreal would focus on improving services for the homeless, though details on the resources provided were sparse. Mayor Valerie Plante pointed out the resource shortage as the key issue, and both city and provincial governments must collaborate more effectively. The report also highlighted a governance deficit in addressing homelessness and a “blame game” between various levels of government.
Key recommendations included recognizing homeless individuals as full citizens and expanding supervised drug-consumption services. The unhoused population in Montreal has grown from 3,149 in 2018 to 4,690 in 2022, with significant mental health and physical health issues among the homeless.
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