The Montreal SPCA and organizations that work on the front lines of homelessness say animal restrictions on housing are a barrier to getting people off the street.
They point to a recent Leger survey commissioned by the SPCA that showed 85 per cent of available housing units in Montreal did not allow animals or imposed restrictive measures.
“This reality forces many people to remain unhoused rather than give up their companion, who is often their main source of emotional stability and resilience. Frontline workers see this every day and often feel powerless in these situations,” the groups wrote in an op-ed letter published in La Presse.
“Just knowing that you matter to someone… that sense of reciprocity gives your life meaning and a reason to live,” said a person experiencing homelessness in a study on the topic conducted by Sherbrooke University.
They say Quebec political parties on the campaign trail are proposing housing solutions however they are not hearing enough about animal restrictions.
“If we are finally able to recognize homelessness as a societal priority, we must also be willing to challenge the policies that contribute to it or prolong it. A society that claims to want to combat homelessness cannot simultaneously maintain practices that force some people to choose between a home and their pet,” they conclude in their letter.
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