Working Towards New Frontiers in Prevention Policy: The Quebec Homelessness Prevention Policy Collaborative
In Quebec, homelessness has become a significant social issue. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the homelessness sector saw a surge in the number of people seeking our services. According to the 2015 and 2018 point-in-time counts, homelessness was already on the rise in Quebec before the onset of the pandemic and most people in the sector believe it has further increased since then. In the face of COVID-19 and a worsening housing crisis, many people who were in precarious situations found themselves without adequate housing for the first time. In Montreal alone, 24,000 households are on the waiting list for subsidized housing. With the lack of affordable housing becoming a pressing issue, we are seeing a rise in encampments as well. Despite the best efforts of community organizations in our sector, who are working tirelessly and collaboratively, we are still seeing a rise in homelessness.