N環球 
Montreal Opening 9 Warming Centres, Urges Province to Guarantee Three Years of Funding
Nine centres across seven boroughs; emergency and transitional capacity rises to 3,000 spaces, 500 seasonal from November; mayor asks Quebec for about $20M a year.
Why it matters
This is Montreal's first official demand to the incoming Parti Québécois government. Two unhoused people died in Quebec this week before winter has even begun; the city says the homelessness crisis is nearly out of control and wants multi-year funding instead of waiting for money every winter.
Full report
Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada announced October 8 that Montreal will open nine warming centres across seven boroughs. The city's emergency and transitional housing capacity will rise to 3,000 spaces, 500 of them seasonal and available in November.
The mayor asked the incoming PQ government to guarantee funding for the city's cold-weather plan over the next three years, estimating about $20 million a year is needed. Community organizations need funding certainty to retain staff and plan ahead, she said, adding she hopes this is the last winter of waiting for funding.
She opened the announcement with condolences for two deaths this week: a woman who died after an encampment fire in Montréal-Nord on Wednesday morning, and a 59-year-old homeless man who died in Granby on Monday. She called on residents to show more tolerance toward unhoused people as the cold months approach.
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