Thousands of homeless people and supporters took part in a solidarity event Friday night in a record 37 cities and towns across Quebec.
The 25th annual ‘Nuit sans abri’ was meant to highlight the latest statistics that show there are more than 50,000 homeless people in the province.
Some believe that this number is much higher and it is now spreading to cities that were once exempted.
"It's about awareness, it's about love, it's about human dignity," said Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, who was on hand for the Montreal event. "We're sending the message we're all part of the solution, but it all starts with, 'How are you, what's your name, are you okay?' It's all about connecting with the people."
In September, the mayor announced an action plan to deal with homelessness in Montreal, injecting $2.5 million a year for the next three years -- $1 million a year more than the city's usual annual budget -- to deal with the issue.
The Quebec government also announced earlier this year a National Policy on Homelessness. Results stemming from that strategy should be implemented this fall.
The Minister of Rehabilitation, Youth Protection and Public Health, Lucie Charlebois, also participated in the event.
"Homelessness is something we take very seriously. I have made one of my priorities," she said in a news release.
With files from La Presse Canadienne
