The Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, is asking Santé Québec to “act” to get the homeless couple living with an intellectual disability who have been sheltering in the Montreal metro for two years off the street.
Posted yesterday at 12:23 p.m.
“I ask that people (from the network) work together and take charge of this couple as quickly as possible,” indicated Mr. Carmant on the sidelines of a meeting of the CAQ caucus in Saint-Sauveur.
An investigation of The Press revealed this morning that the vulnerable young couple had taken up residence at the Radisson metro station on the green line about two years ago. The young couple demands shelter, but refuses to be separated. Two CIUSSS and the Curateur public du Québec are aware of the situation.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
The 32-year-old man is under the supervision of the Curateur public du Québec since he is incapacitated in the eyes of the State. The young woman is considered fit although she lives in a state of extreme vulnerability.
The 32-year-old man is under the supervision of the Curateur public du Québec since he is incapacitated in the eyes of the State. The young woman is considered fit although she lives in a state of extreme vulnerability. The couple is followed by social workers from two different CIUSSS.
Has the homelessness crisis become so acute that we tolerate homeless people living with intellectual disabilities in the metro?, asked the representative of The Press to the minister responsible for homelessness this Wednesday.
“No,” replied Minister Carmant. This is something I am very sensitive to. I was a neurologist. I took care of patients with intellectual disabilities. »
-The minister then listed programs that he himself set up or that his department financed aimed at this clientele. “They can be taken care of with housing support,” he insisted.
“We are trying to see if we can direct them towards rapid entry into housing. This would be a possible solution,” added Minister Carmant, adding that the situation was “particularly complex” since it concerns a couple and that “two different CIUSSS take care of these patients.” Minister Carmant intervened this Wednesday after reading the report to ask the two CIUSSS to “work together”.
In the eyes of Minister Carmant, this story demonstrates “that it is not just shelter that we are taking; it takes more housing.”
Minister Carmant promises to “monitor the situation closely”. “We have to give them (the CIUSSS) a certain amount of time. It’s not a simple situation, he insists. I think they (the two itinerants) must be evaluated jointly and by the two establishments involved so far. »
“Shameful” and “aberrant”, criticize the opposition parties
The Parti Québécois (PQ) describes the situation as a “shameful failure” of the health and social services system. “The situation experienced by this couple, taking refuge in the metro, is a shameful failure in terms of social services and the duty of the State to protect the most vulnerable,” reacted PQ MP Joël Arseneau. It’s been hanging around in the hands of the minister for two years, and now he’s asking for even more delays and absolving himself of responsibility by throwing the matter into the court of Santé Québec. »
For its part, the Liberal Party of Quebec describes the situation as “aberrant”. “Who closed their eyes? Minister Carmant waited for the anger of the population, aroused by the media revelations, to act, said the opposition spokesperson for social services, Elisabeth Prass. How many other similar cases are known by CIUSSS and are not supported? How will the minister ensure that such a situation does not happen again? Will he request a review of the lists in the CIUSSS? » In the eyes of the Liberal MP, the Legault government “continues to abandon the most vulnerable in our society”.
“Unacceptable,” says QS
For his part, the solidarity deputy responsible for the homelessness issue, Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, affirms that this story “breaks the heart”. “It is unacceptable that these young people have been forced to live outside for years, under the eyes of the government!” he reacted. CAQ elected officials cannot remain insensitive to their distress. »Québec solidaire asks Minister Carmant to show leadership to find them a home. “He no longer has an excuse,” concludes MP Cliche-Rivard.
