Montreal to carry out another homelessness census this spring

The City of Montreal will conduct another census on the homeless population this spring in hopes to round up more accurate information on the issue. The first census, carried out in March 2015, revealed that 3,016 people slept outside or stayed in a shelter. That number will now be counted again this April by 1,200 volunteers – 400 more than last time in an effort to provide a more accurate portrait of the problem. One of the biggest issues surrounding the 2015 edition of the census is the number of people actually considered homeless.

That year, the homeless population may have been counted at over 3000, but some advocates believe it is closer to 30,000.

The count doesn’t represent the true range of situations that cause homelessness, said community organizer Guillaume Legault, adding that some people may be displaced from their homes even for a night, and those might not be accounted for.