![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Image-3-1024x576.jpg\")
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada speaking to reporters at a press conference on July 2, 2026. (Genevi\u00e8ve Sylvestre\/CityNews)<\/p>\nThe Office municipal d\u2019habitation de Montr\u00e9al (OMHM) reports that 71 households were relocated into short-term accommodations following the province\u2019s unofficial Moving Day on July 1, a 103 per cent increase from the same time last year when 35 households were relocated.<\/p>\n
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada shared that evictions have also increased this year, with 81 households being forced to vacate their property since the start of 2026, a spike she calls worrying. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe evictions have been increased and the number of people that we have to put in short-term accommodations has doubled,\u201d said Martinez Ferrada during a press conference on Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada speaking to reporters at a press conference on July 2, 2026. (Genevi\u00e8ve Sylvestre\/CityNews)<\/p>\n
Catherine Lussier, the coordinator for the non-profit housing organization Front d\u2019action populaire en r\u00e9am\u00e9nagement urbain (FRAPRU), says the cost-of-living crisis is at the forefront of this spike in relocations.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince 2018, the rent in Montreal has increased around 60 per cent. Salaries haven\u2019t gone (up). And it\u2019s just housing, we\u2019re not talking about food, we\u2019re not talking about transportation. Everything has increased in the last year.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Image-4-1024x768.jpg\")
Catherine Lussier, coordinator for the Front d\u2019action populaire en r\u00e9am\u00e9nagement urbain, stands in front of the non-profit\u2019s headquarters on July 2, 2026. (Gareth Madoc-Jones, CityNews)<\/p>\n
Of the 71 relocated households, 35 per cent were evicted due to an inability to pay rent, 70 per cent were individuals living alone and one-third were seniors over 60 years old. In addition to the relocations, 219 households are being followed by the OMHM to receive support to access affordable housing.<\/p>\n
For Montrealers like Alexandrie Lesp\u00e9rance, this time of year is particularly difficult. After being unable to find a studio apartment she can afford, she turned to the OMHM for help. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m being evicted from my family and I\u2019m trying to find some place that\u2019s affordable at the same kind of price I\u2019m already paying, and it\u2019s very difficult,\u201d said Lesp\u00e9rance. \u201cI don\u2019t want to pay the double the price for the same quality of a place I want to live in.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Image-6-1024x768.jpg\")
Montrealer Alexandrie Lesp\u00e9rance seen in front of the Office municipal d\u2019habitation de Montr\u00e9al after facing eviction from her family on July 2, 2026. (Gareth Madoc-Jones, CityNews)<\/p>\n
Far from alone in struggling to access housing, another Montrealer, Windsor, has been looking for an apartment for his father for a while. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe cost of living is very high. So, finding an affordable apartment is very difficult given the prices,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Image-5-1024x768.jpg\")
Montrealer Windsor, seeking an apartment for his father, is seen in front of the Office municipal d\u2019habitation de Montr\u00e9al on July 2, 2026. (Gareth Madoc-Jones, CityNews)<\/p>\n
The mayor confirmed that everyone in jeopardy of being on the street who contacted the free helpline 2-1-1 was granted assistance and a form of temporary accommodation by the city. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe information I have from the OMHM is that nobody was left on the street. And if there\u2019s anybody in the street right now with no help, please reach out, call 2-1-1, we will take care of you,\u201d Martinez Ferrada said. <\/p>\n
This comes after the City of Montreal granted $3.4 million in additional funding to the OMHM in late May for homelessness prevention programs ahead of the July 1.<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\tThe doors to the Office municipal d’habitation de Montr\u00e9al are seen on July 2, 2026. (Genevi\u00e8ve Sylvestre\/CityNews) <\/p>\n
\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n
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