Affordable Housing and Homelessness in Pointe-Claire

Creating affordable housing in Pointe-Claire requires a comprehensive strategy that involves collaboration among government bodies, developers, community organizations, and residents. The lack of affordable housing is closely linked to homelessness, which is a growing issue in Pointe-Claire. Signs of homelessness, such as tents in green spaces and people seeking refuge and begging near roads, parking lots, and shopping centres, are becoming more visible. Factors like inflation, job loss, high housing costs, low wages, and limited social support drive many into homelessness.

Quebec’s broader social support systems, including health, education, and mental health services, have suffered due to political focus on cultural and language issues rather than on social needs. Specific data on homelessness in Pointe-Claire is not publicly available. Homelessness data in Canada is typically collected at a broader municipal or regional level, such as for the entire Montreal Metropolitan Area, rather than for smaller communities like Pointe-Claire.

The "Montreal Homelessness Count" from 2018 indicated that there were about 3,149 experiencing homelessness across the Montreal area. The most recent statistics show a 33% increase for 2022, jumping to 4,690, and regions like the Outaouais and Laurentians increasing by 268% and 109%, respectively. While this provides insight into the broader context of homelessness in regions, it does not provide a specific count for Pointe-Claire itself. 

There is a lack of local resources for the unhoused in Pointe-Claire, such as shelters or dedicated municipal services, although there are some local organizations, such as the Table de Quartier Sud de l’Ouest-de-l’Île (TQSOI), that handle issues like tenant-landlord disputes and evictions. The local food bank, the West Island Mission, which used to be based in Pointe-Claire, recently moved to Dollard-des-Ormeaux.

Affordable housing in Pointe-Claire is limited, and securing a unit often involves long wait times. For instance, cooperative housing offers affordable living spaces but with limited availability, while subsidized housing, managed by the Office Municipal d'Habitation de Montréal (OMHM), is another option.  Non-profit organizations also provide affordable housing options tailored to specific groups, such as seniors or low-income families, but their availability is also limited. Overall, affordable housing options in Pointe-Claire are woefully insufficient. The construction of more affordable housing units is needed and some existing rental stock could be converted into protected affordable housing units.

Pointe-Claire did begin the process of addressing the need for an assistance program for affordable housing in 2021, and a by-law was proposed but did not progress. It is currently under discussion by city council, highlighting the need for a legal framework to promote affordable housing. 

To tackle homelessness effectively, Pointe-Claire can learn from successful examples like Finland, which adopted a "Housing First" approach. This model provides stable, permanent housing for homeless individuals first unconditionally, followed by tailored support services such as counselling, healthcare, and employment assistance. Finland has committed substantial resources to building and renovating housing units and converting emergency shelters into permanent homes. The government works closely with municipalities and NGOs, ensuring that those in need have access to stable housing and support.

Finland's success is rooted in data-driven strategies, regular data collection, and analysis, allowing for continuous adaptation of homelessness policies. The country also emphasizes prevention by providing social services and financial support to those at risk of becoming homeless. As a result, Finland is one of the few European countries where homelessness has significantly decreased.

In focusing on stable housing first as a foundation, Finland has demonstrated that homelessness is a solvable problem when addressed with the right policies, resources, and commitment. 

Using Finland as a model, the whole of the city of Montreal, including Pointe-Claire and its neighbouring demerged municipalities, can benefit from reducing and potentially solving the issue of homelessness.