MONTREAL--It's normally discreet and happens late at night but residents in Ahuntsic say prostitution is becoming a common sight at all hours. What's worse, it's happening right in front of a daycare and schools.
“They’re around during the morning, during the day, the afternoon, the early and late evenings, they are always around,” said Francois Dion, a resident of the quiet area.
“We find lots of condoms around here,” said Suzanne Charlebois. “And on the streets, neighbours see them working.”
Living near the intersection of Lajeunesse St. and Sauriol St., Charlebois said she is now afraid to go out. One of the women, who she says was high on drugs, attacked her and her dog.
“Then she just hit me in the eye, at 9:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning,” said Charlebois.
Drugs and prostitution have plagued the area for years, lots of the activity happens at nearby motels that take up an entire city block, where it can cost as little at $60 for a room.
Some believe the situation speaks to a bigger problem.
“It’s a societal problem. These are people who had problems during childhood, adolescence and they likely had no support or education,” said Stephane Roy, an area resident.
With a nearby daycare and two schools, some are asking for the borough to clean up the area.
“We are trying to help them, to relocate them, to find them housing, to be proactive,” said borough mayor Pierre Gagnier.
While the police are operating in the area, a local depanneur owner described the scene as a game of hide-and-seek, where the prostitutes flee from the police, only to return behind them.
