Sherbrooke tenants urge action ahead of July 1 housing crunch
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
With Quebec’s traditional moving day approaching on July 1, housing advocates in Sherbrooke are sounding the alarm about a deepening crisis that could leave vulnerable renters without shelter. At a press conference held May 28 by the Association des locataires de Sherbrooke (ALS), organizers called on the City and the municipal housing office to urgently step in and assist tenants struggling to find housing.
“We held this press conference to let renters know that if they haven’t found a place for July 1, there are still services available,” said representative Normand Couture. “People are homeless all year round—we need to remember that.”
The ALS’s key message was clear: no household should end up on the street. “Our priority is to make sure that no renter is left without a home,” said Mario Mercier, another spokesperson for the association. “All renters should have found a roof over their heads by July 1. But with the housing crisis, not everyone has equal access.”
Mercier urged residents in difficulty to immediately contact the Office municipal d’habitation (OMH), which manages emergency supports like temporary accommodations and storage for furniture. “You can call the OMH to get help—get your belongings stored, get support to find housing, and get through this crisis,” he said in an interview after the conference. “There’s guidance available.”
He also criticized the use of restrictive eligibility rules. “The number of people who are unhoused has become a political issue. Sometimes criteria are added just to deny people help,” Mercier said. “But we believe the only criterion should be: are you unhoused? If yes, you should get immediate and full support to get back on your feet.”
During the press conference, speakers expressed frustration at the lack of provincial investment in social housing. “The Minister of Housing claims the situation is under control, but there wasn’t a single new dollar for social housing in the last budget,” one said.
