As the National Conference on Ending Homelessness unfolds in Montreal this week, a diverse gathering of experts, community leaders, and advocates is shining a spotlight on the city’s homelessness crisis. Both inside and outside the Palais des congrès, the urgency for action is palpable.
Organized by the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH), the conference is a hub for front-line workers, researchers, policy-makers, and individuals with lived experiences to exchange ideas, strengthen networks, and devise practical solutions to address and prevent homelessness nationwide.
Emmanuelle Legault, the president and CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal, emphasized, “Homelessness is a daily reality in and around our venue. By offering our spaces for free for this conference, we actively contribute to finding solutions and fostering crucial dialogue for Montreal. Our responsibility goes beyond our physical walls.”
The increasing strain on communities across Canada due to the escalating homelessness crisis, primarily fueled by a housing shortage crisis forcing more individuals onto the streets, has underscored the pressing need for collective action and sustainable solutions.
Tim Richter, the founder, president, and CEO of CAEH, highlighted the significance of the 2025 National Conference on Ending Homelessness, drawing over 2,350 attendees. Collaboration with the Palais and Tourisme Montréal has made this event more accessible and inclusive, enabling a broader range of individuals dedicated to ending homelessness to participate.
The conference aims to evaluate its impact on public policy, community strategies, and general awareness surrounding key priorities like affordable housing, swift shelter access, homelessness prevention, and effective collaboration between community and institutional stakeholders.
Simultaneously, as discussions unfolded within the conference venue, political discourse on the same topic unfolded nearby. Soraya Martinez Ferrada, leader of Ensemble Montréal and mayoral candidate, held a press conference outside the Palais des congrès to outline her party’s plan to combat homelessness if elected.
Emphasizing the need for proactive measures and coordinated efforts between various levels of government and organizations, Martinez Ferrada pledged to eradicate encampments within four years, underscoring the importance of long-term, comprehensive solutions to address homelessness effectively.
Keyphrase: Ending Homelessness Conference
