Mediation not repression to help the homeless

Getting the homeless off the streets without resorting to the courts. That's among the challenges the city of Montreal faces as the summer tourist season approaches and more homeless folks are out on the streets and travelling through.

Among the 26 recommendations released by the special city committee on homelessness : using the services of a special mediation team of social and community workers set up last fall to deal with the friction between the homeless and merchants and residents. Spokeswoman Marie Cinq Mars.

"So that they can talk together and find a solution without always phoning the police."

Pierre Gaudreau represents a coalition of groups helping the homeless. He says the mediators can help diffuse any tension by talking things out with streetfolks.

"If they cause problems to you, (tell them) to go elsewhere, to use the services of a day center (at a homeless shelter), to be helped to find a dwelling, to be helped to find a job."

Gaudreau says he's disappointed the city didn't review its policy of issuing tickets to the homeless, the city saying the bylaws are there for public security and that it's a minority who are the troublemakers.

Other recommendations include designating a special crown prosecutor to deal with homeless cases in court, special training for police to deal with street people, lobbying the provincial and federal governments for more funding as well as to come up with a global policy on homelessness. Gaudreau says they're asking for at least 12-million dollars more a year in funding from Quebec alone for organizations and initiatives helping the homeless. Last year, the government came up with two million.