Homelessness: dismantling of the Notre-Dame Street encampment on Thursday

The Ministry of Transport will dismantle three major sections of a homeless encampment on Notre-Dame Street in eastern Montreal on Thursday.

According to the Ministry, this approach is in compliance with the municipal by-law on nuisance in the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district.

Around ten homeless people who occupy this part of the land, belonging to the Ministry of Transport, would be affected by the Ministry’s eviction notice.

If you do nothing, you are also responsible. So something has to be done. That means that we cannot let someone settle there, live there, create structures on site, operate illegal commercial activities.explained the spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport, Gilles Payer.

For its part, the City of Montreal emphasizes that there is an aspect of danger in this encampment.

Beyond the criminal activities, there were also, and this, I would like to point out, elements of danger in terms of structures, wooden structures which are erected, which are worrying for the neighborhood, but also which can become major fire vectorsindicated Robert Beaudry, responsible for homelessness on the Montreal executive committee, specifying that it is the Ministry which will dismantle the encampment.

Devint, a person experiencing homelessness, deplores the decision. It’s a lack of understanding, he said. Go sleep outside for a week in winter, then talk to me about it again. It’s fretful.

Robert Beaudry emphasizes that the camps are more numerous because the shelters lack places.

The issue is there. The shelters are currently overflowing, then the increase in camps that we see in public spaces, well this is also a symptom of the fact that places are more and more difficult [à trouver].

The elected official from Montreal also indicates that there are a certain number of problems in the camps.

We know that there are also mental health issues, the accumulation of material on a large scale which also means that it can create other health, safety and sanitation problems.he added.

Devint says he will not leave the camp.

I built myself up again, then sat in my tent. I’ll just sit there and then they’ll come and get me. She will be well anchored therehe assured.

Speaking about his homeless neighbors, Devint says they shouldn’t be forced to leave.

You can’t force them. The only way you can do is talk with them until they make their own choice. If you force them, they will return to where they werehe said.

The office of Mayor Valérie Plante indicated in a written statement in the evening that the City continues to make every effort in its power to support people experiencing homelessness and community partners. However, Montrealers, whether housed or not, cannot pay the price for Quebec’s neglect of its responsibilities.

We are still waiting for the government’s plan for the winter period, but we are also expecting national control of the homelessness crisis.

Cities and organizations are also awaiting news regarding the[s] 100 million dollars lying dormant[men]t on the negotiating table between Quebec and Ottawa. The money must come down as soon as possiblehe adds.

According to the report by Gabrielle Proulx.