Montreal organization seeks help for unhoused campers under Ville-Marie Expressway – Montreal | 24CA News

Every at times, David Chapman, government director for the non-profit day shelter, Resilience Montreal, checks in on the greater than 20 folks dwelling beneath the Ville-Marie Expressway, west of Atwater Avenue in Westmount, close to downtown Montreal.

Some of the folks dwelling there have been ready for a low-income residence for so long as 5 years, and Chapman, along with his staff at Resilience Montreal, has been attempting to assist them.

“We’re in the process of hunting for six apartments at the moment,” he instructed Global News whereas visiting the campers. “Some for couples, some for folks who are single.”

Just a few weeks in the past Transport Québec, who owns the property, wished to evict the campers due to restore work being achieved on the overpass.

After housing advocates spoke out, the eviction was postponed — a reduction to Chapman, who insists it’s safer for the campers to be collectively like this whereas they wait to be housed.

“When people are living in tents in a community, there’s greater safety,” Chapman mentioned.

For instance if somebody overdoses, that particular person can get assist extra rapidly as a result of there are different folks round.

If individuals are pressured to go away a camp comparable to this, Chapman argued, they change into dispersed, alone and have much less entry to assist.

“So you take a marginalized population and you make them more marginalized,” he mentioned.

The eviction delay has purchased them time to search out some a everlasting a house, however Resilience employees say it’s robust with some property house owners.

“They always judge what they see,” defined Ronny Laporte, Resilience Montreal intervention employee.  “If they think that you’re homeless or whatsoever, right away you get refused.”

So staff accompany purchasers to reassure the property house owners however, in accordance with Laporte, typically even that isn’t sufficient.

Another barrier he pointed to is excessive hire value, stressing that one thing has to alter.

“If we’re always going this way, how are we going to to be able to keep people off the streets?” he mentioned.

He and different housing advocates are pleading with property house owners to be extra understanding.

In spite of the setbacks, although, Chapman acquired a shock Tuesday when camper Sabrina Dubeau instructed him she discovered an residence for herself and her boyfriend, additionally a camper.

According to her, they’ve been dwelling beneath the overpass, ready for an residence, for 5 years.

All that involves an finish Dec. 1 after they transfer to their new place in Verdun.

“I’m happy,” she laughed. “Got a bath, shower, bubble bath.”

Chapman even supplied to assist them transfer, believing it’s a glimmer of hope earlier than winter arrives.

1:52
Transport Quebec cancels plans to evict homeless encampment beneath Ville-Marie Expressway

&copy 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.