‘We’re not animals:’ Advocates calling for supports after video of SPVM removing homeless person from bench

MONTREAL – It’s a sight often seen on Montreal metro platforms: members of the homeless community seeking shelter from the cold and finding a chance to rest on a bench.

One of those instances was recently caught on video, showing police physically removing a man who was sleeping on a bench.

This incident seen in the video happened the morning of Mar. 11 at Montreal’s Snowdon station.

#WATCH A video courtesy of @meals4MP, showing a man who was sleeping on a bench at Snowdown metro station being physically removed by @SPVM officers on the morning of March 11. The community group shared a snapshot of the incident calling on @SPVM to stop these interventions. pic.twitter.com/9NssXw8aan

— Alyssia (@rubertuccinews) March 15, 2021

But one Open Door client, who wishes to remain anonymous, says the homeless community sees stuff like this all the time.

“That’s something we see daily around here it. Happened to me once just walking in the metro,” they said.

“They just stopped me and put me to the ground, just because they thought I was someone else. But any homeless person is homeless. That’s it all.”

“It’s one of the only places during COVID people can find some respite or rest.,” said Sophie Hart, the founder of Meals for Milton-Parc.

Meals for Milton-Parc is a student-led group advocating and supporting the city’s homeless. The group is calling out police for the scene in the video.

“There’s no Tim Hortons for seating arrangements. There’s no 24-hour McDonald’s. People don’t have places to go in the winter and if people are continually being harassed at metro stations, it takes away one of their only safe spaces.”

Recently officers were seen at Bonaventure metro station blocking off benches that many would rest on. The STM said at the time that it was for pedestrian traffic flow purposes, but many called the move foul.

#WATCH “Somebody sleeping on a bench is not a police matter,” says John Tessier of the Open Door shelter. He says police officers aren’t trained to compassionately deal with the homeless and says it’s about the city designating more outreach workers on the ground. @CityNewsMTL pic.twitter.com/u2WGJckT0w

— Alyssia (@rubertuccinews) March 15, 2021

“Somebody sleeping on a bench, in my opinion, isn’t a police matter. However, people don’t know who else to call. Sometimes the police don’t know what to do,” said John Tessier, interventions coordinator with the Open Door shelter.

“I think there’s much more important things for the police to be doing than to be waking people up sleeping in someone’s store or on the metro benches.”

“If it the person bothers you or there’s something wrong with that person sleeping there, wake them up gently and try to find out why they are sleeping there,” said the anonymous homeless person.

“Is there another way to help them found another to sleep? Don’t just throw the person out. You don’t know why he’s on that bench sleeping.”

A recent study out of the universities of Montreal, Sherbrooke and Ottawa found Montreal’s homeless population received nearly 40 per cent of the city’s tickets.

“It’s really upsetting as an outsider but I can’t even imagine how upsetting for people who are getting the fines or in the situation themselves–having a negative experience with police because the police are supposed to be there to protect us,” said Hart.

“[Police] are not trained to compassionately deal with homeless people. They’re trained to stop and catch criminals. So, when you’re sending a police officer to a situation when there’s not a problem, the problem comes from the top down,” said Tessier.

CityNews reached out to Montreal police and the department confirmed a call came in about a person lying on a bench at the edge of the boarding platform at Snowdon station, but could not comment further, however the City of Montreal did provide this statement:

“Interventions with people experiencing homelessness are complex and require tolerance and compassion on the part of all those involved. We work with our community partners, the STM’s health network and the SPVM; and we favor approaches focused on supporting and accompanying the most vulnerable towards resources.”

Advocates are calling on the city for more social services and outreach workers on the ground to help the homeless and less policing.

“There needs to be a planned stated, saying we’re going to take all of these steps to make sure these situations don’t happen again,” said Hart.

“Just take the time to stop us, like any other individuals, and talk to us. We’re not animals,” said the anonymous homeless person.