The price tag of caring for Quebec’s homeless population is on the rise. A new study puts the annual cost at more than $1.15 billion, or $95,284 annually for each homeless person in the province, according to a recent study published by the Union of Quebec Municipalities. The study found there are more than 12,000 visibly homeless people in the province. Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette is part of the Union of Quebec Municipalities. “The cost of inaction is greater than the cost of action,” she said. Housing accounts for the largest share of the cost, followed by health care, public safety, and financial assistance. The total price tag is 16 times higher than what the average Quebecer costs the system, at $5,900. An alliance representing 13 organizations serving homeless women is sounding the alarm, calling on the next provincial government for permanent funding to keep up with demand, as shelters reach their limits. “We refuse at least 20 women per day, so that’s a lot,” said Le Chaînon CEO Sonia Côté. Marquis-Bissonnette says the study doesn’t capture the full cost, including what cities are taking on. “For instance, when there are encampments, it’s our police officers, our firefighters, municipal employees making sure people remain safe,” she said. Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada says her administration tripled its financial commitment, but it is still not enough. She wants the next Quebec government to commit to recurring funding for housing and three emergency shelters. The Quebec government spent nearly $500 million fighting homelessness last year, with the study’s authors saying the bill is going to continue to rise.
