Montreal

Montreal gets $10M from Ottawa to fight homelessness

The federal government announced Monday it would be increasing its funding to fight homelessness in Quebec to $17 million between now and 2018, $10 million of which is destined for Montreal.

City, province say various community groups will help determine how money should be spent

Nights spent in homeless shelters up 10 per cent for men in Montreal, according to RAPSIM. (CBC)

The federal government announced Monday it would be increasing its funding to fight homelessness in Quebec to $17 million between now and 2018, $10 million of which is slated for Montreal.

According to Le Réseau d'aide aux personnes seules et itinérantes de Montréal (RAPSIM), the funding meets a sad trend of increased homelessness in Montreal.

RAPSIM said last winter more than 80,000 nights were racked up in shelters by Montreal's homeless — a new record.

According to the group, the number of men spending night in homeless shelters was up 10 per cent this past year. For women, the increase was seven per cent. 

with files from Shaun Malley