The Quebec government announced Thursday its $52-million plan to tackle homelessness in the province.
The plan prioritizes five main issues: housing, health services and social services, income, education, social inclusion and social and professional integration and issues related to criminalization.
“I'm really confident that today is the beginning of an enormous change of an enormous work and collaboration and a first important step that all together we make the fight to the fight against homelessness a priority,” said Veronique Hivon, minister for social services.
Last week’s budget contained the promise to build 3,250 social housing units, of which 500 will be set aside for the homeless, which is “key measure” in implementing the plan, according to the government.
The housing plan has a $46-million price tag, and the government has decided to add $6 million towards additional services.
The plan also includes funding for more mental health and social services.
Half of the money will be spent in Montreal, the epicentre of homelessness in the province.
Money will also be set aside for groups offering services specifically for women and Aboriginal Peoples.
"The solutions are beyond just finding an apartment finding a job - that's part of it. But healing is something we need to start focus on," said Adrienne Campbell of Projects Autochtones du Quebec.
Sylvie Levesque has spent most of her life on the streets. For the past four years, she's been a recurring visitor at the Old Brewery Mission.
"I hope this is going to work out, because I want to be with my daughter and my grandson," she said of the plan.
Matthew Pearce, director-general of the Old Brewery Mission, said despite the fact some may dismiss the plan as pre-election pandering, he is hopeful the plan will happy with the plan, adding it will help pinpoint how many homeless people live in the city.
"These are things we've been pushing for for many years and now we hear the ministry singing from the same song sheet," he said.
In a news release, the CSSS Jeanne-Mance, which serves the downtown area, commended the policy, saying it stresses the importance of getting government, service delivery agencies, stakeholders and citizens to work together.
“The complexity of homelessness necessitates a comprehensive approach which notably must allow access to social and health services tailored to the needs of homeless persons,” said Jason Champagne of that Health and Social Services Centre.
But the Liberals’ social services critic said while the plan identifies the challenges surrounding the issue, it offers no solutions or concrete amounts the government will devote to the cause.
“It is certainly not by cutting hospital budgets and closing youth that the situation will improve,” said Stephanie Vallee in a news release.
Quebec Solidaire also decried what it considers to be a lack of a concrete plan of action, but commended the govermnment for dedicating services to women and aboriginals, saying the move is a "step in the right direction."
