I represent the non-profit organization AGAPE, which serves English-speaking and multicultural communities in Laval.
AGAPE is the one English-speaking organization serving all the needs of the community.
In Laval, the situation has deteriorated greatly over the past 20 to 25 years. Laval was considered one of the richest cities in Quebec. Unfortunately, the homeless situation has increased drastically over the past few years, and many of our homeless, especially young people, have taken refuge in Laval, hoping to find a little bit of security there, compared to the great cities like Quebec and Montreal.
We meet these homeless people on a regular basis. Some of them come from as far away as Halifax, Moncton, and Toronto because they feel it's safer here, which surely doesn't help the situation in Laval. Because of the increase in the homeless situation, crime rates are on the rise, material needs are on the rise, food is lacking, and so on, and for all of that, my organization is involved in attempting to put out some small fires.
We've applied recently for a grant to open a centre to receive these homeless and change their way of life, which is going to be quite a task for us, but we're up for the job. However, we have a serious problem with the newly arrived immigrants, the refugees in waiting. These people come to Montreal and decide to come to Laval because, again, they think it's a safer area to live in. These refugees in waiting find themselves turned down by landlords because they're not a sure rent. They're turned down by society because they're coming from another country. When we talk about racism, we know what we're talking about. Many of them have to take to the streets because they can't find a place to live. This is also where we come in.
I'm going to tell you in a few words that the waiting period for a refugee in waiting to get a temporary work permit is too long. We would like to recommend that we activate files to get these people on the job market. There are many ways of finding work in Laval. These people are willing to work for minimum wage as long as they can survive. They do not wish to fall into the cracks of society and live on social welfare, but right now they're trapped on welfare, with a minimum income. Some of them come to us with their bags, looking for a place to live.
It's very important that we activate their files and also that we activate their dossiers: are we going to keep them or not? Sometimes it takes four to five years. During that period of four or five years, these people, again, lack every essential for the needs in their lives.
I'm sorry. I prepared these notes as I came in this morning and I know that I'm forgetting half of the stuff. I could talk to you all day about AGAPE. People like Raymonde and Tom really know what I'm talking about.
Reviewing the files sometimes takes four years or six years. The needs increase and the problems increase. The owners don't want to deal with people who have no money. As you know, the landlords don't want to deal with anybody who is poor.
On the other situation with young kids, the homeless youth, we have to find ways and means to get these people out of their situations. Here's what I would recommend. I know it's not going to happen, but I would love to see senior members of Parliament come and spend a couple of days--in my case, in Laval, and also with the people of the first nations--and live what we go through every day, live the situations that we find ourselves in, and meet the homeless people we meet. They could meet them and ask them why they're on the street. Some of them have a very good reason.
Besides activating those files, visible minorities are a problem, in that you know that racism exists and you know that in Laval it's really on the rise, and it is a problem to try to find a better way of life for these people. I don't know what we can do about that, but I'm submitting it to you.
I'm putting the ball in your court, Madam Folco, and we'll talk about it.
Laval received $919,000 from 2007 to 2009 to serve the homeless projects, which is a far cry from the needs that we have.
Thank you.