MONTREAL: Montreal has seen a surge in tenant evictions compared to last year, forcing the relocation of dozens of households during the city’s traditional “Moving Day” period, Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada confirmed.
“Right now, we’re up to 66 families that have been relocated, which we’ve been working on, and the number of evictions is higher than last year,” Mayor Martinez Ferrada told CTV News. She emphasized that municipal support measures will remain active well past the traditional July 1 lease-turnover deadline, as housing instability persists throughout the year.
To combat the crisis, the city administration previously earmarked $3.4 million in funding over three years for the Office municipal de l’habitation de Montréal (OMHM). This budget finances emergency measures during the OMHM’s “Operation July 1” window (mid-June to mid-July), covering temporary housing, moving expenses, furniture storage, pet care, and psychological counseling for vulnerable residents.
Additionally, the city introduced an interest-free loan program this week to assist tenants struggling to cover their monthly rent. Administered by the local homelessness non-profit Maison du Père, the initiative offers up to $5,000 per eligible household, repayable over five years. Approximately 150 households are projected to benefit from the financial relief.
The mayor urged any Montreal residents facing eviction or housing distress to call 311 immediately to access emergency short-term housing resources, hotel accommodations, and personalized relocation assistance.
