The remaining occupants of a homeless camp in Montreal’s east end have left Monday afternoon after they were forced to leave and served with an eviction notice.
Montreal police say that so far no arrests have been made after the homeless community was asked to leave the green space off Hochelaga Street.
The camp had initially blocked off the space in the morning after the eviction notice was served Sunday from the property owner Transports Québec.
The site was deemed unsafe and a potential risk for fire, according to an inspection carried out by Montreal firefighters over the weekend.
A group of 50 young demonstrators showed their support and solidarity with the group of residents earlier Monday. They played music and lit bonfires.
“If we move from here, we will find another spot to camp,” spokesperson for the encampment Guylaine Levasseur said.
“Montreal has a lot of nice places. They are just displacing us.”
The City of Montreal has said it sympathizes with the community but stressed they can no longer be on private property.
The city adds that a number of beds in nearby shelters have been made available. Police say the owners of tents left behind at the makeshift camp site are invited to go pick them up.
— With files from Global News’ Phil Carpenter and The Canadian Press
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