A Quebec Superior Court judge has temporarily blocked the City of Montreal from dismantling the encampment under the Van Horne overpass in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough until the case can be heard in full.
The lawsuit was filed by the Clinique juridique itinérante (CJI), an organization that provides access to justice for the homeless.
The CJI asked the court to prevent the City of Montreal from removing the residents of the encampment, located near a skate park and a basketball court, where about ten people live.
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In early May, the City of Montreal took steps to ask the occupants to leave the site by May 21, citing the need to ensure the full and safe use of the recreational facilities in the park under the overpass.
In his decision, Judge Alexander Pless noted that the encampment residents have a right to safety and protection against “any state intervention that would jeopardize their safety.”
The judge concluded that, in the absence of an alternative solution, the City of Montreal cannot proceed with their eviction until the case has been heard in full.
CityNews reached out to the City of Montreal for comment and has not yet heard back.
