Municipalities, first responders to social distress

2023-04-28 13:48:04

This text is part of the special section Municipalities

Homelessness has increased since the pandemic, in Montreal and in the regions.

Financial difficulties, mental health problems, lack of social housing: the reasons are many and complex. While responsibility for health and social services falls to the Government of Quebec, municipal authorities are on the front line and must act. Several mayors will discuss it during the conference Municipalities, first responders to social distress, presented as part of the 2023 Conference of the Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ).

In the eyes of Bruno Marchand, mayor of Quebec and president of the UMQ Homelessness Committee recently formed to reflect collectively on this problem, this is the perfect cocktail right now to “not take care of our people on the street who suffer”. He notes that there is often a lack of political will. “Many people think it’s not possible to end homelessness,” he says. There are proactive CISSSs and CIUSSSs, others less so. It lacks resources. Community groups are exhausted. But there are solutions. »

He gives the example of Finland, which decided to act in 1986 after a particularly harsh and deadly winter for the itinerant population. “Since then, the curve of the number of homeless people has continued to descend, with a few jolts, so that the target is to reach zero by 2027, specifies the mayor of Quebec. It is the only European country where homelessness is decreasing. »

He is of the opinion that it will of course be necessary to adapt the Finnish recipe to our context. “But, it is certain that it takes a targeted political commitment, data every year, social housing and support,” he says.

If acting costs money, he mentions that not acting also costs money. “Europe has calculated that a homeless person costs society around 40,000 euros (nearly $60,000), including public safety, health care and justice. The same person costs 25,000 euros if they are in housing before they have even started working or volunteering. Cities are at the end of their resources and it is people who are suffering, whether we are talking about homeless people, merchants, citizens, people from community groups. We must act. »

Innovative initiatives in Montreal

Faced with the magnitude of the post-pandemic problem, Montreal had no choice but to act by working with the community. For example, in the summer of 2021, the City created the Mobile Mediation and Social Intervention Team (EMMIS) in order to intervene quickly in the public space in situations of conflict, distress or cohabitation affecting people who are vulnerable or in difficulty. Therefore, if, for example, a person is in a state of psychosis or is lying in front of a shop, one can contact EMMIS. “Traditionally, we called the police, but we don’t necessarily need police to intervene,” says Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal. In several situations, the psychosocial workers of EMMIS can do this and direct the person to the right place, according to their needs. »

If, moreover, the EMMIS was initially financed entirely by the budget of the City of Montreal, in its second year, the City obtained financing from the Ministry of Public Security. “The EMMIS takes the pressure off the police services,” explains Valérie Plante.

The Mayor also mentions the importance of developing resources adapted to different needs. For example, thanks to a partnership between the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal and the Old Brewery Mission, a residential center with medical and psychosocial support for homeless alcoholics opened its doors l last year.

“It’s important, because often people who are homeless with an alcohol problem cannot go to regular shelters,” said the mayor of Montreal. Then, aboriginal people have other needs, women too, seniors, newcomers. The accompaniment must be adapted to the person. »

Homelessness Strategy Committee in Val-d’Or

The City of Val-d’Or is also well aware that the support must be adapted to the person. “We are close to two Anishinaabe communities, so these people come to seek services in our city, and sometimes they stay,” said Mayor Céline Brindamour. Out of 33,000 people, we have between 150 and 200 people who end up on the streets in our area at some point in the year, and about 55% of those people are aboriginal. »

The City started looking into the problem about ten years ago, when it started to get more serious. One of Val-d’Or’s strengths is its Strategic Committee on Homelessness, which includes representatives from the La Piaule shelter, the Sûreté du Québec, the main post and mixed Aboriginal community police station, the Center d Friendship, the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Val-d’Or, under the coordination of the CISSS de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue. “We are working together to continue to develop services and, if something happens, I know who to talk to,” said the mayor.

She is also delighted that La Piaule has obtained funding to open a non-traditional site to accommodate people, feed them, but also get them interested in doing different things during the day. In addition, a building with 41 social housing units is being finalized and will provide shelter for people currently on the street. “My biggest concern now is to restore social peace,” said the mayor. We must be patient and tolerant of vulnerable people, but at the same time, ensure safety, respect and a certain peace of mind in the city centre. We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. One thing is certain, a city cannot take everything on its shoulders. She needs partners. »

This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, relating to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.