Montreal Neighborhood Grapples with New Emergency Shelter and Fears of Growing Homelessness Concentration
A new emergency heat stop is set to open this Friday in Montreal’s Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough, but the initiative is already sparking concern among residents who fear a “concentration of homelessness” and question whether the “temporary” solution will become a permanent fixture.
Published Thursday evening, the opening of the shelter at the former Sainte-Émélie convent on rue Adam aims to provide 60 beds, two meals a day, and a heated space for individuals experiencing homelessness. The facility will operate from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. during the holiday season, with plans to expand to 24-hour service in January and remain open until March 31, as part of a municipal plan to create 500 additional spaces in heat centers before Christmas.
However, a public meeting held Tuesday evening revealed deep anxieties among local citizens. Residents expressed a feeling of insecurity and skepticism regarding assurances from borough officials and organizations involved in the project.
“We thought we had the right to something official, to be able to ask public questions so that they could be used in the debate,” lamented a neighborhood resident, Audrey Cotton. “Instead, we have a public relations campaign from organizations.” Cotton, a new mother, described avoiding certain sidewalks due to safety concerns, citing an increase in mischief, theft, and witnessing crises on the street. “I am a new mother, with my 3 month old little girl. Sometimes there are sidewalks that I avoid.”
The concerns extend to a perceived lack of equitable distribution of resources. Several residents pointed to the existing shelters managed by CAP St-Barnabé, located in the former YMCA and on Bennett Avenue, alongside an encampment on Notre-Dame Street, creating a high concentration of services within a limited area. “It’s not the heat stop, the problem is putting it in this square kilometer,” stated Maxime Langlois, a local resident.
The proximity of the Sainte-Émélie convent to the Saint-Clément primary school has also fueled anxieties. “I feel like I’m invited to an idiot’s dinner and I’m taken for a suitcase tonight. Nobody admits that things are not going well,” said Daniel Ménard, a father of two students at the school, recalling previous incidents involving “shady people” near the school. He voiced fears about students encountering used syringes or facing safety risks while walking home.
Another resident, Robert Francœur, who lives opposite the heat stop, expressed concern about the potential for the resource to become a permanent fixture, leading to a “magnet for homelessness” and the “ghettoization of the sector.” “It makes sense to take something empty, yes, but we are afraid that it will become a magnet for homelessness.”
While the borough has stated the heat stop is intended as a temporary measure, with consultations planned after March 31 to determine future plans, residents remain wary, citing the continued operation of a temporary YMCA resource opened in 2020. “They say it’s temporary. But no. I am worried that if this becomes permanent, there will be crowds all year round, for example in the summer,” added Jean-Luc Chiarore.
Mayor Chantal Gagnon acknowledged the residents’ worries in an interview, while also highlighting the empathy and tolerance shown by others towards the homeless population. She explained that the former convent was chosen due to the identified “needs” in the area and assured that the borough, along with the Police Service of the City of Montreal (SPVM), the CIUSSS, and local organizations, are collaborating to “reassure people” and develop a “good cohabitation plan.” “Cleanliness” tours will also be conducted around the Saint-Clément primary school.
Regarding criticism of the public meeting format, Gagnon defended the approach, stating that 9,000 letters of information were sent to residents and that the “one on one” discussions were a “winning formula.” Despite these assurances, the underlying tension remains, as residents grapple with the complex challenges of providing support for vulnerable populations while safeguarding the well-being of their community.
