The Societe d’habitation du Quebec said among the people who have contacted regional housing offices or it’s customer service centre for help, “178 households are currently being rehoused temporarily, either with people close to them or in hotels.”
Veronique Laflamme, a spokeswoman for Quebec tenants group the Front d’action populaire en reamenagement urbain, said the number of people asking for help to find housing on Saturday changed by the hour. “That number is only a pale reflection of the reality, as it doesn’t take into account households that have not yet come forward,” she said in an interview Saturday, adding the figure also omits people who settled for housing that doesn’t truly meet their needs.
Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante issued a similar message, telling Montreal residents to call 311 for help.