The Montreal metro has become a last-resort refuge for vulnerable individuals, and the STM is calling for better support for vulnerable individuals by the responsible authorities.
In a recent press conference, the STM spokesperson stated that the metro has become a last-resort refuge for vulnerable individuals falling through the social safety net, but emphasized that it is not a sustainable solution and that proper care from healthcare and social services is needed.
Éric Alan Caldwell, Chairman of the STM’s Board of Directors, said:
"The metro has unfortunately become the overflow unit for the most vulnerable people who fall through the cracks of the social safety net. But the reality is that the STM can no longer be a last-resort refuge. It is unacceptable to consider the metro as a good place for these individuals. There will be no sustainable solution until these individuals are properly cared for by the healthcare and social services systems, to prevent them from ending up in our facilities, which are not equipped for them. The metro should serve the mobility of Montréalers, and the homelessness crisis is now having disproportionate effects on our primary mission. We are doing everything we can to manage the presence of homeless people in our network, but with a fragile balance in our stations and a declining sense of security among our customers and employees, the situation is untenable. Without significant changes in the care of vulnerable individuals, we will no longer be able to show the same level of tolerance in our network.”
Is Montreal public transportation safe?
In the past, public transportation was considered safe to use in Montreal, even at night, however this announcement sheds light on new social safety concerns.
What are the key points of the announcement?
The number of escorts at the metro's closing time increased from 10,051 in 2023 to 12,124 in 2024 (+19%).
The STM has seen an increase in people without a specific transportation goal in its network during the start and end of the winter period, when the warming shelters are not or no longer operational.
Individuals who use the metro without a clear purpose are among the most vulnerable members of society and face complex issues.
Calls to special constables for incivilities increased by 40% in 2024 compared to 2023.
Customer complaints about security in the metro grew by 18% in 2024 compared to 2023.
Calls for interventions related to drug consumption increased by 166% between 2023 and 2024 (from 807 to 2,150), with a noticeable rise in the consumption of hard drugs and overdoses.
The sense of security in the metro experienced a significant decline in 2024. In January 2025, the feeling of security reached an all-time low, with only one in two customers feeling highly secure during their travels.
Despite a context of budget optimization, the STM increased its security budget over the past two years to cope with the crisis.
The financial impacts linked to more difficult social cohabitation in the metro network are real: the STM must invest more in security measures while also losing potential revenue, as the increased number of calls for special constables limits their capacity to check tickets.
The total number of criminal assaults (physical assaults, threats, and intimidation) against STM frontline staff increased by 9% between 2023 and 2024 (382).
The situation has also led to increased cleanliness issues, despite the hard work of STM maintenance staff. The presence of human waste and used syringes in stations poses challenges for both customers and employees.
People without a specific transportation goal enter tunnels to urinate or approach the tracks due to mental health issues, putting themselves at risk and causing service interruptions.
In 2024, 520 service interruptions occurred due to individuals being on the tracks (in stations or tunnels), accounting for 28% of all service interruptions (1,829).
What are the STM’s main recommendations?
That we collectively stop considering the metro network as a last-resort refuge for vulnerable individuals.
That the government invest more in healthcare and social services to ensure the proper care of people facing homelessness and issues like drug addiction, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, cognitive impairments, and aging, from public spaces to housing access.
That the government, with the support of the City of Montréal, develop a comprehensive annual regional plan for shelter services (emergency shelters, warming stations, day centers), with intensification beginning in summer to plan for the winter period.
That the government and the City establish annual coordination for shelter space availability and overflow in emergency services, as well as information dissemination to relevant organizations, including the STM.
That responsible authorities strengthen proximity interventions in the metro network to build relationships with vulnerable individuals and connect them with the health and social services system, and ancrease the availability of supervised consumption sites.
For a link to the full STM brief, click here.
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