Canada/Homelessness: Trois-Rivières adopts a social cohabitation plan

On Thursday, the City of Trois-Rivières presented its first social cohabitation action plan, a series of measures designed to address homelessness issues in several neighborhoods, particularly downtown.

This action plan is the result of the Forum on Social Cohabitation held in May.

The city, community organizations, CIUSSS MCQ, the Corporation de développement communautaire de Trois-Rivières and the Centre de services scolaires du Chemin-du-Roy all have roles to play in the action plan.

The first measures in the social cohabitation action plan will be launched in 2025, and the plan is scheduled to run until 2027. It contains a total of 50 measures.

In the plan's section on accommodation and housing for vulnerable clienteles, several measures are aimed at finding a solution to homeless encampments on the territory.

The city must also support the creation of new social and community housing for vulnerable people.

Measures to promote cohabitation in public spaces

The city's action plan also focuses on safety in public spaces.

Among the measures proposed in the plan are joint patrols between police and psychosocial workers. We also hope to perpetuate the hiring of a community worker at the library.

CIUSSS MCQ will also be increasing the number of community outreach visits by mental health teams.

With regard to the development and cleanliness of public spaces, the city will increase the number of public and chemical toilets in parks throughout the territory. We also hope to increase the number of public water points to meet the basic needs of homeless people.

In terms of community animation and occupation of public space, we propose to organize cultural activities in devitalized parks and revitalize these areas. We also hope to offer cultural activities for marginalized customers.

Parts of the plan also focus on citizen participation and consultation. In particular, we plan to keep citizens informed about the measures contained in the plan, and to ensure that the population is aware of the importance of social cohabitation.

We also intend to organize a second social cohabitation forum in 2027, to evaluate the current action plan and implement other measures.

Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/