Quebec Faces Homelessness Crisis After Fatal Montreal Camp Fire

A fatal fire at a homeless encampment in Montreal North has renewed pressure on Quebec's incoming government to expand emergency shelter services and establish a coordinated response to homelessness. The woman, who was in her 50s, died after emergency responders found her unconscious at the scene on the morning of October 7, 2026, prompting renewed calls for immediate winter funding and long-term housing measures.

According to the Montreal Police Service, officers received a call at approximately 4:50 a.m. about a fire at an encampment near the intersection of Rue de Charleroi and Boulevard Lacordaire. The woman was taken to a hospital, where her death was confirmed. Investigators were expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The encampment consisted of five or six tents, according to Maryse Paré, director of services at RAP Jeunesse, an organization that provides psychosocial support and essential equipment to people living outdoors. The death came as Quebec faces mounting concerns about the safety of people experiencing homelessness ahead of winter.

Provincial figures cited by La Presse show that 12,077 people were experiencing homelessness in Quebec, an increase of 20% over three years. Data supplied by the Quebec coroner's office to La Presse's investigative team also recorded at least 500 deaths among people experiencing homelessness across the province since 2020.

A separate case highlighted the risks facing vulnerable people without stable housing. Last winter, a 71-year-old man with declining independence died after being struck by a vehicle in Montreal's Ahuntsic district. According to La Presse, he had visited a hospital 96 times since 2023 without receiving the support he needed, and accommodation had recently been denied despite his extreme vulnerability.

Another incident in September involved a one-year-old child found safe at a Montreal encampment with the child's pregnant mother. The cases illustrate how homelessness affects people across generations, including children, women and older adults.

Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the elected premier and leader of the Parti Québécois, pledged to make homelessness a priority for his government. He also promised to organize a provincial summit on homelessness in 2027, bringing attention to the need for coordinated action among governments, municipalities and community organizations.

However, advocates say immediate intervention is necessary before temperatures fall. Michèle Chappaz, executive director of the Mouvement pour mettre fin à l'itinérance, called for funding to open emergency accommodation and warming centers in Montreal. She warned that a future summit would not address the immediate risks facing people sleeping outdoors unless winter services received funding first.

Paré expressed concern about whether political commitments would translate into practical measures. She also emphasized that homelessness results from policy decisions made over many years rather than the actions of a single administration.

Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada said the city would present its winter warming plan and submit an initial funding request to Quebec's new government. The city has estimated that $18 million is needed to maintain the necessary services, according to La Presse.

Martine Musau Muele, a city councilor responsible for homelessness issues within Projet Montréal, argued that provincial authorities must take a stronger role. She pointed to the scale of government intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of the response that could have been applied to homelessness.

The financial consequences also extend beyond emergency accommodation. A study by CIRANO estimated that homelessness costs Quebec $776 million annually, or more than $70,000 per person experiencing homelessness. The estimate includes emergency and transitional housing, day centers, hospital care, ambulance transportation, police interactions and court appearances, but excludes additional expenses borne by municipalities and businesses.

La Presse has also highlighted Housing First, an approach promoted by the Parti Québécois that provides permanent housing without requiring conditions such as abstinence before placement. Supporters argue that stable housing can help people access additional services while reducing repeated reliance on emergency systems.

Meanwhile, Quebec's coroner's office launched a public inquiry following several deaths involving people experiencing homelessness. Five deaths between September 2025 and March 2026 are scheduled for detailed examination, adding to scrutiny of how public institutions respond to people without secure housing.