by Timothy Edward, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

During a press conference on Tuesday, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante announced a municipal investment of nearly $22.5-million in 42 projects to support frontline homelessness organizations in the city.

$21.3-million is being allocated over a three-year period to 39 community organizations whose 42 projects will be “focused on social inclusion, cohabitation, awareness and diversion from the justice system,” Plante explained.

$700,000 in funding will support three organizations that provide shuttle services to access housing resources, while $450,000 will support the ongoing work of Mouvement pour mettre fin à l’itinérance à Montréal and Réseau d’aide aux personnes seules et itinérantes de Montréal.

In addition to these endeavours, the city is also finalizing the installation of modular housing with support services on the site of the former Hippodrome racetrack in Côte-des-Neiges/NDG. A similar project is underway at 100 Louvain Street West in Ahuntsic-Cartierville.

Plante also called for Premier François Legault to appoint a minister responsible for homelessness.

“Homelessness has intensified throughout Quebec and calls for concrete solutions. In Montreal, the actions we fund will help to better support vulnerable people, strengthen efforts to promote cohabitation in our neighbourhoods and support frontline workers. But we must go further: all levels of government must mobilize to address the root causes of this humanitarian crisis. We must lend a hand to the most vulnerable, and to do so, we must remain mobilized.”