How Sherbrooke’s winter is pushing resources to the limit
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
As Sherbrooke grapples with the harsh winter of 2025, local organizations supporting people experiencing homelessness are feeling the strain. With temperatures dipping lower than last year’s mild season, shelters and day centres are seeing an increased demand for space, resources, and support. One of the frontline organizations, Ma Cabane, is struggling to accommodate the surge, with its director, Marc St-Louis, describing the situation as “chaotic” and “cacophonique.”
Overcrowding at Ma Cabane
Ma Cabane, a day centre designed to provide a safe, warm space for those at risk of homelessness, typically welcomes between 80 and 120 individuals daily. However, due to the extreme cold, visitors are staying longer than usual, leading to significant overcrowding.
“The comfort level at Ma Cabane is about 25 people at a time,” St-Louis explained. “But now, we’re seeing days where we have up to 50 people inside at once. It becomes really chaotic.”
Unlike previous years, when milder winter conditions allowed individuals to spend more time outdoors, this season’s bitter cold is forcing them to remain inside, exacerbating the strain on the centre’s limited resources.
The search for space: A difficult reality
While the need for a larger facility is evident, St-Louis admits that relocating Ma Cabane is nearly impossible due to zoning restrictions, budget limitations, and the necessity of remaining close to the community it serves.
“Ma Cabane can’t just be anywhere,” he said. “It has to be where people live. Even if a larger space were available, we’d have to be able to afford it.”
The uncertainty surrounding Sherbrooke’s new floodplain zoning regulations further complicates matters. “I don’t even know what’s going to happen with that,” he added.
The impact of the housing crisis
St-Louis pointed to a worsening housing crisis as a key driver of the growing demand for resources. Many people who previously relied on seasonal or precarious housing arrangements are now finding themselves with nowhere to go.
“In the past, some people would give up their apartments in the spring and live in campsites for the summer,” he explained. “By fall, they’d usually find a place again. But now, that plan isn’t working anymore. If someone loses their apartment in the spring, they can’t find another one in the fall. And sometimes, the people they used to rely on for a place to stay have lost their housing too.”
Without stable housing, these individuals turn to organizations like Ma Cabane for refuge, placing an ever-growing strain on available services.
Managing conflict and community tensions
Despite the increasing number of people in a confined space, St-Louis noted that tensions at the centre have remained relatively manageable. “It’s not like fights are breaking out all the time,” he said. “Sure, voices get raised, but that’s just part of the reality of living on the street. People are on edge. They’re exhausted.”
He also cautioned against misconceptions about the perceived danger of those experiencing homelessness. “The number of arrests for violence involving homeless people isn’t nearly as high as some might think,” he said. “We have to be careful not to exaggerate the risks.”
The role of new initiatives
Sherbrooke has introduced new programs aimed at addressing homelessness, including the recently started Sentinelles initiative, which seeks to train community members to recognize and respond to vulnerable individuals. St-Louis acknowledged the effort but also warned of its limitations.
“On one hand, it’s great if more people are learning how to support those in need,” he said. “But on the other, we have to be careful. There’s a fine line between helping and overstepping. People need to know when to call in professionals.”
Another initiative involves a specialized police unit that patrols homeless encampments and wooded areas by bicycle. St-Louis supports the concept and has worked with some of the officers involved. “They’re good people,” he said. “They take the time to build relationships. But, of course, not everyone in law enforcement sees things the same way.”
A structural crisis, not just an individual one
For St-Louis, the homelessness crisis is not simply a matter of individual misfortune but the result of systemic failures.
“This isn’t just about a few people falling on hard times,” he said. “We’ve structured society in a way that produces homelessness. It’s been getting worse since the 1980s, and now it’s a full-blown crisis.”
He pointed to chronic underfunding as a major issue, citing that Ma Cabane’s provincial funding increase last year amounted to only $5,800—an amount that does little to offset inflation and rising operational costs. “If the government won’t provide real funding, then we need people to support us directly,” he said. “We rely on community donations to keep going.”
What can the public do?
When asked what ordinary citizens can do to help, St-Louis emphasized the importance of both financial support and basic human kindness.
“Supporting community organizations is huge,” he said. “But even just acknowledging people makes a difference. Many people experiencing homelessness feel invisible or treated like garbage. A simple smile, a ‘hello,’ can restore a bit of dignity.”
He also encouraged people to reconsider their assumptions about those living on the street. “We don’t know their stories,” he said. “We judge too easily. But if you had lived their life, you might be in the same situation.”
A call for long-term change
While emergency support is critical, St-Louis stressed that long-term solutions require broader societal change. “Homelessness isn’t just an economic issue,” he said. “It’s about mental health care, social services, and how we support vulnerable families. We’ve built a system that leaves people behind, and now we’re surprised at the results.”
With the crisis showing no signs of abating, organizations like Ma Cabane remain on the front lines, working with limited resources. For now, it continues to serve as a lifeline for those with nowhere else to turn, but the challenges of homelessness in Sherbrooke are far from being resolved.