No One Must Be Left Behind

Cry from the Heart from Night of the Homeless
in the Outaouais

On October 15, the Collectif régional de lutte à l’itinérance en Outaouais held the 19th Night of the Homeless at Fontaine Park in Gatineau. The event did not take place last year because of the pandemic. This year, with the participation of several hundred people, of which nearly 250 walked in solidarity through the streets of Vieux-Hull, the event was a great success.

The Night of the Homeless is an evening dedicated to raising awareness about a situation affecting more and more Quebeckers, one of poverty, social disaffection and homelessness. Every year since 1989, the Night has been organized around an evening solidarity vigil, featuring a variety of activities. Everyone is invited to spend the night together to raise their voices against poverty and show solidarity with the homeless. The event is also a means of highlighting the precarious conditions that homeless people face on a daily basis.

Beginning at 5:00 pm, food, clothing donations, COVID vaccinations and much more were made available to the homeless population of Gatineau.

People were encouraged to donate warm clothing that they no longer wear, which was distributed during the evening to those in need. There was also a moment of reflection to pay tribute to those who have passed away since the last event two years ago.

The theme adopted throughout Quebec was “Seeing Beyond Appearances,” to highlight the economic, political and social causes of poverty and the fact that people experiencing homelessness have rights as human beings and as members of society and that we must all work together to defend these rights.

(Photos: CRIO)

This article was published in:

Renewal Update No. 47, October 18, 2021

Article Link:
No One Must Be Left Behind: Cry from the Heart from Night of the Homeless