Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

In a coordinated effort to address homelessness and promote social inclusion, six major cities in
Quebec—Gatineau, Lévis, Longueuil, Québec City, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, and Sherbrooke—
have released two video capsules designed to inform the public and prompt reflection on the
realities of life without stable housing. The initiative, announced on June 16, encourages
solidarity and deeper understanding of social marginalization.

The videos, Démystifier l’itinérance and Lutter collectivement contre l’itinérance , stem from a
shared municipal commitment to dismantling stigma and fostering support for vulnerable
residents. Now available online, the films present a mix of personal accounts and community
messages that highlight both the causes of homelessness and the importance of collective care.
This joint campaign complements each city’s existing efforts to tackle housing precarity, with the
municipalities uniting their resources to produce a shared message with province-wide
resonance. It reflects a growing recognition that housing insecurity is not confined to one
jurisdiction—and neither should the response be.

“The people experiencing homelessness are residents like any others,” said Steven Moran,
Gatineau’s Commissioner for Homelessness. “We believe it’s essential to support social
coexistence in our communities. Through our awareness efforts and support for local
organizations, we reaffirm the importance of addressing this issue with humanity, rigour, and
commitment.”

Other municipal leaders echoed this perspective. Québec City Mayor Bruno Marchand
described the campaign as “a call to solidarity, to listening, and to humanity.” In Longueuil,
Mayor Catherine Fournier noted the project complements the city’s recently adopted action
plan, while Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu’s Mayor Andrée Bouchard emphasized the importance of
collaborative efforts that “protect both the dignity of the most vulnerable and the vitality of our
communities.”

For Sherbrooke Mayor Evelyne Beaudin, the project represents a step toward a more equitable
society: “We create, together, a community more just, for all.”

Photo: In a coordinated awareness campaign, six major Québec cities have released two video
capsules, Démystifier l’itinérance and Lutter collectivement contre l’itinérance , to challenge
misconceptions about homelessness and promote community solidarity. (TF) Photo: screenshot
of Démystifier l’itinérance on YouTube