08/05/2025
The situation in Montreal:
Homelessness in Montreal has been rising over the last three years, both visible and hidden. Visible homelessness includes people sleeping outdoors or in shelters. Hidden homelessness refers to individuals in unstable living situations such as couch-surfing, sleeping in cars, or squatting. These people often go uncounted in official statistics. At the same time, food bank usage in Montreal has increased by over 30 percent, reflecting the growing number of low-income and unhoused individuals.
What do the numbers tell us about women? Not enough. Women, especially Indigenous women, are disproportionately impacted. Indigenous women are ten times more likely to experience homelessness than non-Indigenous women. Most experience hidden homelessness, avoiding shelters and public spaces due to the high risk of violence, assault, and trafficking. As a result, they are often left out of public conversations and policy responses.
A story of overrepresentation & intersectionality
Indigenous and non-binary people also face significantly higher rates of homelessness compared to their share of the general population. Many support services fail to meet their specific needs, leaving them with limited safe options. Those with overlapping marginalized identities, such as Indigenous women, often face even greater risks. Due to trauma and past negative shelter experiences, some people feel safer sleeping outdoors than in the systems meant to protect them.
In 2023 and 2024, over 250 encampments were dismantled by Montreal police and city officials. These actions have been widely criticized by advocates for lacking trauma-informed and sustainable alternatives. Visibility, safety, and dignity are essential. Housing is a human right.
