Due to lack of housing, a woman will spend the summer in a campsite in Centre-du-Québec

At 42, Nadia Gagné’s life was completely turned upside down following a separation. Just a few weeks ago, she had a roof over her head, but today, her campsite has become her home and her minivan serves as a bedroom.

I took so many things for granted before, like electricity, toilets, temperaturesays Nadia Gagné.

When she broke up, she understood that it was going to be impossible for her to afford housing in Longueuil, where she had previously lived. The Centre-du-Québec campsite where she has taken up residence remains much more affordable.

$, it’s limited”,”text”:”Even in the region, in Gaspésie, even a three and a half below $1000, it’s limited”}}”>Even in the region, in Gaspésie, even a three and a half under $1000 is limitedshe describes.

I’m tired: it’s difficult. It’s just having a roof over your head when you’re in a society with so many resources and wealth.

Difficult access to housing assistance resources

On a daily basis, it is the presence of her dog Emma that gives her a little light in these darker moments. However, Nadia maintains that several organizations that help women in her situation refuse animals, which adds a layer of complexity.

Caught in a dead end, she no longer knows where to turn. : \”You are no longer part of our region\””,”text”:”When I made requests to Longueuil, I said that I had taken a seasonal campsite in Centre-du-Québec. They said: \”You are no longer part of our region\””}}”>When I made requests in Longueuil, I said that I had taken a seasonal campsite in Centre-du-Québec. They said: “You are no longer part of our region”she laments.

This woman then received a similar response when she contacted organizations in Centre-du-Québec who mentioned that she should instead contact resources in the municipality where she was living.

An increasingly common situation

More and more people are finding themselves in a situation similar to Nadia’s, according to the I HIT.

The big risk is that visible and invisible homelessness, such as people living in vehicles for weeks, will become widespread. We must not become insensitive to these situations and we must not normalize them.

This organization also invites people who can to call on assistance services since municipalities have emergency funding from Quebec to support people looking for housing.

It may be a short-term solution, like people who will stay in their car, but it is important that these households contact emergency assistance services so as not to ultimately find themselves in a period when the level of aid may be less intensewarns Véronique Laflamme.

For her part, Nadia Gagné continues to hope that she will find a resource adapted to her needs. With the winter season finally approaching, she has no idea what awaits her when camping is no longer possible.