By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban
The City of Montreal in collaboration with the Montreal Regional Health Authority (CIUSSS) and the Health and Social Services Network is launching a major public consultation which will be conducted by the Public Consultation Office of Montreal (OCPM) “to gather the opinions of the population concerning the conditions for success leading to the harmonious integration of resources dedicated to people experiencing homelessness or of vulnerability in the metropolitan areas.”
At the announcement, the Plante administration acknowledged the increasing pressure on community organizations and promises that “new” solutions to respond to the urgency of the situation will emerge from the consultation process. Pierrefonds-Roxboro City Councillor and the Official Opposition spokesperson on Homelessness Benoit Langevin is calling this announcement another “smokescreen” in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.
“We are seeing that more and more residents, parents, families and business owners are concerned about the way resources are planned in their area and we must do better in anticipation of increasing needs. We have heard the population and we want to involve citizens and community organizations in the search for clear tools and guidelines to improve our practices and ensure more harmonious integration of aid resources in the territory. If we want to adequately respond to the growing needs of vulnerable people, all stakeholders must do more to better plan the opening of resources in neighborhoods and take into account the needs of the population. We must move forward with lucidity while understanding the real issues linked to cohabitation and the feeling of security so that everyone can live with dignity and security in Montreal,” Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante stated.
Dr. Mylène Drouin, regional director of public health for the Montreal region, is calling the circumstances surrounding homelessness a public health crisis. “Visible homelessness is increasing and changing in Montreal. This is a complex phenomenon that has multiple facets. It is important to propose responses adapted to these different aspects while ensuring that the voice of the population, including that of marginalized people and people experiencing homelessness, is included in this consultation effort.”
Langevin told The Suburban that this announcement is a delaying tactic and that persons experiencing homelessness in this city take no immediate or short term benefit from these “talks”. Langevin says he even doubts the long-term benefits as he has seen no concrete action that leads him to trust the new proposed process. “I am seriously asking, why do we need a consultation to know ‘how to consult’? This is prolonging a process. After six years of opening and closing shelters — why does Montreal now need a public consultation to produce a report? Did they not state numerous times that they consulted with the organizations?” n