Homeless in public spaces: 2 stories
The issue of the homeless occupying public space is tackled from two angles currently.
One is the new police policy for the metro, involving more special constables and security.
The other is a public library policy to be implemented in the new year, in which people who smell bad will be asked to leave.
In both cases, RAPSIM (Réseau d’aide aux personnes seules et itinérantes de Montréal) spokespeople are outraged, but I’m of two minds about this. It’s clear that homeless people need somewhere to go inside in winter, but the metro and the libraries don’t operate so well if expected to also function as homeless shelters.
jeather 11:37 on 2023-11-24 Permalink
I have seen a lot of unhoused people in the metros, but I have never noticed it really causing a problem for operations, they tend to try to stay away from the busier locations. It’s not good that there are so many of them, though that’s a larger issue, but I don’t want more cops in the metro more than I don’t want people sleeping in corners.
I do see how it can be a bigger problem in libraries, but also that particular rule seems just set up for unfair and unkind enforcement.
Kate 12:21 on 2023-11-24 Permalink
There have been accounts on social media of unpleasant encounters with angry or deranged people in the metro, or people shooting up in plain sight. I think it’s that kind of thing rather than people sleeping in corners that has people feeling unsafe in the metro.
I haven’t been using the metro at all lately so I have no personal observations on this point.
As for the libraries, I couldn’t say. I visited the Mordecai Richler library briefly a couple of weeks ago and it was full of clean, studious young people. But that may not be one of the locations with the problem.
jeather 19:20 on 2023-11-24 Permalink
I am sure there are unpleasant encounters, but I am curious what the actual numbers are vs “people complain on social media and it trends”.
Uatu 11:49 on 2023-11-25 Permalink
The other day when the metro stopped at Lionel groulx there was someone angrily screaming “putain” at the top of their lungs and you could hear it echoing throughout the station and into the metro car. You could feel the tension and everyone in the car hoping that the metro leaves before that screamer gets on. It made me think twice about using public transport. Hopefully these new initiatives will help.
jeather 14:28 on 2023-11-25 Permalink
I take the metro a lot lately and I have had exactly zero unpleasant person interactions other than every asshole keeping their backpack on their backs at rush hour. I know they happen, but I would like to hear actual statistics on problems.
Tim S. 16:45 on 2023-11-25 Permalink
While the phrasing of the bylaw seems bad, I’ll note that the news story quoted various homeless advocates and no library user (though one head of a library association).