Housing for ex-cons worries residents
A project for housing for ex‑cons in Tétreaultville is worrying residents. The neighbourhood is described as a “quartier familial” but what neighbourhood is not? This is not an official halfway house, but the work of the John Howard Society, whose spokesman tries to say soothing words, but ends up admitting that nobody can guarantee that an ex‑con won’t reoffend. But he also reminds us that there’s literally no location in town that isn’t near a school or a daycare.
R T 11:41 on 2026-07-22 Permalink
In the 2000s, Miami and neighbouring cities passed by-laws banning sex offenders from living within 750 metres of “schools, parks, bus stops, or homeless shelters”. The only locations in the county not within 750 metres of “schools, parks, bus stops, or homeless shelters” were parts of the airport grounds, under a highway bridge or in the Everglades (and whether the highway bridge was legal was disputed), which resulted in hundreds of sex offenders being forced to live under the highway until the county stepped in and overruled the cities.
All of this is to say that if you can’t find a place in the car hell that is Miami not near schools, daycares etc, you’ll never find one in Montreal.
GC 14:33 on 2026-07-22 Permalink
Is it just my French or do the statements from Hénault-Ratelle and Bernheim contradict each other over sexual crimes? At least Bernheim is honest about not guaranteeing that no one will reoffend–because he obviously cannot guarantee that.
Kate 21:55 on 2026-07-22 Permalink
Their statements do conflict. Bernheim says there could be people who’d committed sex crimes, but they’ve all been rehabilitated and would be carefully selected for the project. Hénault-Ratelle says people who’d committed sex crimes would not be accepted.
A long time ago I lived in NDG down the street from a halfway house. But I don’t even think I’d’ve known it was there, except there was a woman in my building who liked ex‑cons – a lot. Pamela was the most chaotic person I’ve ever met. Her involvement with a series of shady ex‑convicts was the most normal thing about her.
Blork 11:00 on 2026-07-23 Permalink
“… there’s literally no location in town that isn’t near a school or a daycare.”
Griffintown?
Ian 13:01 on 2026-07-23 Permalink
Finally, something good comes of G-town’s lack of social infra.
Kate 13:42 on 2026-07-23 Permalink
I wonder whether the condo owners in the Griff would welcome a housing project for ex‑convicts.