By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
A homeless person was recently removed from in front of the former Sebby’s restaurant on Queen Street in Lennoxville, raising concerns among locals. Additionally, reports have surfaced of a homeless couple living nearby, further highlighting the growing issue of homelessness in the area. This situation reflects a larger trend observed throughout Lennoxville and Sherbrooke, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Claude Charron, Borough President of Lennoxville, noted in a Sept. 23 interview that homelessness in the area has become more visible in recent years, with calls from concerned citizens becoming more frequent. “We get about four or five calls a year about people on their grounds,” Charron said. “COVID really created the situation, with everything closing, people started to move around, and it spread out until we started seeing them in Lennoxville.” He mentioned that while the pandemic was a turning point, homelessness is not a new issue.
Despite the visibility of the problem, solutions remain elusive. Charron explained that the borough relies heavily on the police for handling such situations. “The police will move them, but what really happens is they just move elsewhere,” he said. “It’s a no-end situation.” He provided specific examples, such as homeless individuals being moved from areas like between the buildings near the former Sebby’s restaurant and along the Samuel-Gratham bike trail behind Motel La Marquise. Police often only respond when complaints are filed by concerned residents. “If the police don’t get complaints, they don’t do anything about it because there’s no solution to this,” Charron explained.
He emphasized that homelessness is not just a local issue but a national problem. As a board member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, he is aware of similar challenges across the country. “We’re discussing different things to do between municipalities. I know they just built a new building in Val d’Or, but they couldn’t open it because they couldn’t get insurance. The intention is good, but the bureaucracy is so heavy,” he said.
