Many individuals typically link homelessness with urban areas. However, in recent times, rising housing expenses and an inadequate social services system have led to an increasing number of people in rural regions also facing homelessness. Sylvie Larose, a resident of Saint-Jérôme, Que., found herself homeless from 2023 to 2025, enduring violence and theft during that period. Navigating the housing assistance system proved challenging for Larose, with temporary solutions often being the only outcome.
Larose’s story resonates with this year’s Nuit des sans-abri event. Since 1989, on the third Friday of October, people in Quebec express solidarity with the homeless by spending the night outdoors. Cap Emploi, a local organization in Saint-Jérôme, participated in this event and played a key role in helping Larose secure permanent housing a year ago. Now, Larose advocates for increased empathy and understanding towards those in similar circumstances, emphasizing the importance of recognizing their humanity.
A new feature of this year’s Nuit des sans-abri in Saint-Jérôme aims to cultivate empathy and understanding by immersing participants in the experiences of homelessness. Mallorie Paquette, a coordinator from the Corporation de développement communautaire de la Rivière-du-Nord, orchestrates this immersive experience, presenting attendees with challenges mirroring real-life struggles faced by the homeless in accessing essential services.
Homelessness rates in the Laurentians surged by 70% between 2022 and 2025, as reported by Quebec’s Ministry of Health and Social Services. Ahead of the recent election, local leaders urged the provincial government for substantial commitments to address the escalating homelessness crisis in the region. With the population growth in the Laurentians exacerbating the challenge of finding affordable housing, the newly elected Parti Québécois government has pledged to prioritize homelessness and allocate a specific budget within its initial 100 days in office.
Anticipating over 500 attendees at the Nuit des sans-abri event at the Vieille gare de Saint-Jérôme, organizers have prepared a program starting on Friday, Oct. 16, featuring a musical performance by Quebec artist Gilbert Lauzon.