Montreal Sets Up Mobile Winter Shelters for 36 People Near Notre-Dame Street Encampment

Montreal is preparing to provide winter shelter through temporary mobile residential units near the Notre-Dame Street encampment, the largest of its kind in the city. The project aims to shelter 36 people on a temporary basis, with beds, health facilities, and round-the-clock social support. It is expected to begin operating next December.

The city council has allocated 1.4 million Canadian dollars to cover the purchase of the mobile units and the preparation of the site. Quebec provincial government funding will help cover operating costs and staff salaries. A community health organization will provide medical and psychological services.

Montreal city officials and social workers have warned that the encampment has grown in recent months, with more than 200 people living there. Reports also cited a projection that the number of people experiencing homelessness could rise to 180 in September 2026, as temperatures drop and the need for emergency shelter increases.

Advocates for people experiencing homelessness said the project does not meet the full needs of the community. They said about 20% of the people living in the encampment are young people, and that the city still needs more long-term housing solutions to prevent a recurrence of the crisis. Protecting young people and other vulnerable residents calls for steady, lasting provision, not only temporary relief (Psalm 82:3).

Local community members have called for a comprehensive social policy that addresses the root causes of homelessness, including the housing crisis, the rising cost of living, and mental health services. They say such a policy would help individuals receive the support they need to return to a stable life.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Arabic)