Night of the Homeless Demands a Roof for All, Now
Montreal
October 20
marked the 34th Night of the Homeless, one of many actions
organized in
Quebec throughout the year to demand that everyone have access
to
decent housing. This event, as is now tradition, was a time for
exchange of information between advocacy organizations and the
homeless, with the
public sharing a meal with them or donating warm clothing.
For Quebec's 10,000 homeless people -- according to the most recent count -- nighttime is synonymous with wandering, the cold, the struggle to sleep while avoiding being robbed or mugged, choosing from among the best and worst options for safety, at the price of being stuck with others in a dormitory, with no privacy. Organizers said that housing, mental health, drug overdoses, inflation and the international violence crises are impacting all members of society, with even more serious consequences for those without a roof over their heads.
The event took place in over 60 cities and towns, showing how
homelessness is a social problem that governments have a
responsibility
to solve.
This article was published in
Volume 53 Number 10 - October 2023
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2023/Articles/M5301014.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca