Community groups demand Quebec parties make homelessness a priority before October election

A coalition of over fifty community groups and businesses is pressing Quebec political parties to commit to solving homelessness ahead of the October 5 provincial election.

At a press conference Monday, June 15, members of the Montreal Movement to End Homelessness (MMFIM) appealed to parties to recognize homelessness as a humanitarian crisis and released priority areas for provincial investment: a province-wide action plan, funding for community organizations, and investment in non-market housing.

"We must recognize that homelessness is a structural issue that requires a structured and coherent response," said the executive director of MMFIM.

According to MMFIM, the number of people experiencing homelessness in Quebec topped 12,000 in 2025 — a 20 percent increase in three years. In Montreal specifically, 5,000 people currently lack stable housing.

MMFIM also urged political leaders to prevent homelessness by "introducing an interministerial directive guaranteeing that no individual leaves a correctional facility, mental health institution, healthcare establishment, detention centre, or youth protection placement without a housing plan and appropriate support."

The coalition noted that nearly one in five Montreal households struggle to pay rent, while nearly a quarter rely on food banks — making them vulnerable to losing their housing. Community organizations are under increased pressure from growing demand even as costs have risen. Although the 2026–2027 provincial budget maintains current funding levels, the lack of adequate indexation since 2024 and rapid growth in needs have weakened their capacity to intervene effectively, MMFIM said.

Attendees included Pauline Marois, former premier of Quebec; Sonia Côté, president of Le Chaînon; and Benoît Langevin, city councillor responsible for homelessness at the City of Montreal.