The main cause of stress in psychiatric patients is the housing crisis: Montreal organizations say

The housing crisis is taking a toll on the mental health of tenants, say organizations calling on Francois Legault to take action.

According to the Regroupement des ressources alternatives en santé mentale au Quebec (RRASMQ), this was the leading cause of stress among psychiatric patients in Quebec.

The organization held a press conference with the Regrouped Committees and Communities of Quebec (RCLALQ) in Montreal on Sunday.

The two groups submitted an open letter sent directly to Legault that will be released to the media on Tuesday.

More than 300 organizations specializing in housing and mental health are asking Legault to take concrete action to address the housing crisis that is causing so many challenges.

“Unfortunately, with the current directions of the current Quebec government, there is no hope that this situation will improve,” said Cédric Dussault, spokesperson and coordinator of the RCLALQ.

He noted that “there is a growing sense of desperation among tenants who have contacted housing committees and tenants' associations.”

According to him, the increase in mental problems is a consequence of the housing crisis.

“We are speaking directly to the prime minister to remind him of his responsibility to Quebec tenants,” Dussault said. “Renters make up more than 40 percent of the population the prime minister must serve.”

High rents, evictions and poor quality housing can cause anxiety, depression, insomnia and even suicidal thoughts, RCLALQ and RRSMAQ say.

RRASMQ surveyed 35 resource organizations in the field to reach this conclusion.

Martin Blanchard, co-ordinator of RCLALQ, says that it is very difficult for tenants to get help from the housing tribunal during eviction.

“Most phone calls from tenants to the administrative tribunal are closed before you even talk to a person,” Blanchard said. “There's a bot that tells you 'all lines are busy' and then you don't have time to leave a message.”

“Imagine a situation where someone comes to your house and says, 'You're leaving.' Imagine the strain on people's mental health.”

RRASMQ President Peter Belland is in a similar situation.

Since 2018, they have been threatening to evict him from the house. Suffering from depression, the artist was forced to turn to food banks, and 80 percent of his income goes to pay the rent.

“The stress is taking its toll on me,” she said. “I can't continue my work. My apartment is getting messy. My workshops are not practical.'

A self-employed worker living in Cowansville laments the unaffordability of housing: “My landlord wants to put me out on the street because he wants this money, it seems normal now.”

If he moves out, he will have to pay five times the current rent.

Specific requirements

The signatories of the letter call for a moratorium on transfers for use, expansion and rezoning to reduce speculation.

They also want all repossessions and evictions to go through a housing tribunal, which would ensure follow-up and oversight.

Finally, the organizations want state rent registration, rent increases, and a state social housing program.

– This La Presse Canadienne report was translated by CityNews