‘Solidarity for greater dignity’: Montrealers assemble in show of support for those facing homelessness

Every third Friday of October, hundreds of citizens, organizations and community stakeholders come together across the province for Nuit des Sans-Abri — and this year, they’ve returned for the 36th edition of the annual event.

The event began with a gathering at Mont-Royal metro in Montreal’s Le Plateau where attendees proceeded to march on St-Denis Street all the way to Place Émilie-Gamelin for a solidarity vigil, where dozens of organizations were in place to offer diverse programming focused on the various aspects of homelessness.

With many facing difficult economic and housing situations, coupled with the current state of access to public services, representatives say the event aims to bring attention to the different realities of those living in situations of homelessness, poverty and social disaffiliation that’s affecting a growing number of Quebecers.

“The purpose of all this is just to bring awareness that there’s still a long road ahead of us and changes really need to be made today to help the people that are struggling right now,” said Jamie Saad, spokesperson for Nuit des Sans-Abri and community programs manager at the Montreal SPCA.

According to a census conducted during a single night last April, 9,300 people were observed to be visibly unhoused in Quebec – with a 15 per cent increase in sheltered homelessness over the past year and a half.

“There’s a lot of young boys that are homeless in 2025 and the housing crisis tends to get into the lives of young people too,” said a Montrealer who said she works for an organization that specializes in helping young men find housing.

“I think there’s a lot of stereotypes and homeless people are very misunderstood, so I think it’s very important to let everyone know what they’re living is not easy and they should be supported as well, it’s not a choice,” added another Montrealer.

With more and more people finding themselves homeless in Montreal, and what they say is an alarming rise in intolerance towards people experiencing homelessness, representatives from La Nuit des sans-abris are calling for concrete action from the government.

“There needs to be a bigger structural response to the homeless situation in Montreal,” exlaimed Saad. “The government has to be more aware of it and change the regulations that are making it really difficult to access safe housing, getting jobs and access to food.”

Their demands also include that decision-makers respect the right to housing, the right to health, the right to live in the city, the right to equality and the right to safety, which according to them, are rights that are constantly being violated for people in situations of homelessness.

“I want the federal and provincial government to understand the scope of the problem that Quebecers are experiencing, and I think throughout Canada. Quebecers have the right to live, they have the right to eat and have the right to prosper,” added another local, mirroring Saad’s sentiment.