Homeless in Hochelaga: the need of a 75-year-old with handicap

Homeless in Hochelaga: the need of a 75-year-old with handicap

challenges for mobility -restricted in homelessness

Homelessness in Québec achieves worrying dimensions, especially for people with mobility restrictions. A particularly shocking example is the case of Yvan Coulombe, a 75-year-old man who has been living under a balcony in the district of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve for three weeks and is dependent on his quadrorter.

The reality of the housing shortage

yvan had previously lived on the ground floor of a apartment building in Rue Préfontaine for nine years until he was locked out of his apartment due to rent arrears that had accumulated over ten months. The rent increases he experienced amount to an average of $ 276 a month, a sum that was intolerable for the pensioner who lives from his pension. "When I pay, nothing stays with me anymore," he explains. This situation displaces many older people into homelessness, even if they were employed during their active years.

neighborhood aid and solidarity

Although Yvan's circumstances are challenging, there are signs of solidarity in his living environment. Local residents such as Diane Perron and Yvon Janvier are concerned and support him by visiting him regularly and bringing him food. "I find it terrible and unfair that someone has to live in this way," said Perron. This neighborhood aid is not only a human gesture, but also reflects the concern that many feel about increasing homelessness in the community.

The barrier of adaptability

The search for a suitable emergency accommodation is another great obstacle for people with a quadrorter. Andréane désilets, the managing director of La Maison Benoît Labre, indicates that most emergency shelters in Montreal for people with limited mobility are not sufficiently equipped. "Most facilities are outdated and not very suitable, which makes it difficult to integrate people with mobility restrictions," she explains. The challenges not only include structural barriers, but also a lack of financing for necessary adjustments and overall limited availability of accommodations.

statistics and necessary measures

According to data from the Ministry of Health and Social Services, almost 28% of homeless people in Québec suffer from physical restrictions. These statistics illustrate that specific measures are necessary to improve the situation of this particularly vulnerable group. Jaëlle Bégarin, managing director of La Maison du Père, emphasizes the urgent need to create spaces that are tailored to the requirements of people with mobility restrictions. "Our capacities are extremely limited due to financing bottlenecks," she adds.

A call to change

The story of Yvan Coulombe is not only an individual tragedy, but also symbolizes a more comprehensive problem that affects society. The difficulties with which people are confronted in homelessness, especially those with special needs, urgently require joint efforts of governments, non -governmental organizations and the community to develop effective solutions and to ensure equivalent access to living space for everyone.