MONTREAL – With the city entering a period of extreme cold, Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada has announced plans to open 500 new warming shelters by Christmas. The Mayor also unveiled new measures aimed at helping the homeless population survive the harsh winter season.
The city estimates the 500 new shelters will cost approximately $4.7 million. These warming centers will provide blankets and other essential supplies to those in need.
Mayor Martinez Ferrada confirmed that contracts have already been signed to open more than 200 of the 500 planned shelters within the next two weeks. While the city currently operates 2,458 warming shelters, she stated that this capacity is insufficient given the increasing number of people experiencing homelessness.
Mylène Drouin, Director of Public Health for Montreal, addressed the crisis, emphasizing that the predicament of the homeless, accelerated by the early onset of winter, constitutes a public health issue. She warned that the combination of humidity and cold creates dangerous conditions for those sleeping on the streets, increasing the risk of hypothermia. Drouin also noted that there is typically a rise in substance use and fatalities during the colder winter months.
