On Thursday, September 14, on the eve of the Municipal Summit on Homelessness in Quebec, the Union of Municipalities of Quebec (UMQ) announced the results of a study carried out by the company AppEco for the UMQ on the state situation and the analysis of the impact of programs to prevent and combat homelessness in Quebec in the municipalities.
Results
According to the study, the total annual cost of a homeless person in Quebec living on the street amounts to $72,521.
Furthermore, the study estimates that if we maintain the status quo scenario, municipalities will have to assume costs of $450 million by 2027.
Finally, the study estimates that a scenario that combines control and prevention actions would reduce the number of homeless people by 35%.
“Across Quebec, municipal elected officials are on the front line,” says Martin Damphousse, president of the UMQ and mayor of Varennes, in a press release. Municipalities have been sounding the alarm for months and trying to meet the needs of their communities. The study shows us that beyond the costs, it is necessary to invest massively in the prevention and reduction of homelessness to concretely reduce homelessness, for the benefit of the people who live in this situation, but also for society. “We must ensure that homelessness is a collective priority, a priority in redefining the partnership between Quebec and municipalities.”
Municipal Summit
The Municipal Summit on Homelessness on September 15, moderated by Isabelle Craig, aimed to bring together, around the same table, nearly 400 actors who play a role in the prevention and fight against homelessness , particularly governmental, institutional and community.
It provided the opportunity to discuss the realities of homelessness and the priority and innovative actions to be taken, all from a municipal and inclusive perspective.
