On Friday, August 7, 2026, residents of the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough announced their opposition to a proposed apartment building on Notre‑Dame Street East that would provide housing for former inmates. The proposal, aimed at creating a dedicated residence for individuals re‑entering society after incarceration, has prompted a local response. More than 100 signatures have been collected on a petition demanding that the plan be withdrawn.
Community members say the development would alter the character of the neighbourhood and raise concerns about safety and integration. The petition, signed by a cross‑section of local households, reflects a collective desire to keep the proposed housing project out of the area. City officials have been notified of the petition and the residents' objections, though no official response has been issued at the time of reporting.
The opposition forms part of a broader discussion about how former inmates are accommodated in Montreal’s east end. While the project aims to address a shortage of transitional housing for people leaving the correctional system, the local reaction demonstrates the challenges of locating such facilities within established residential districts. The outcome of the proposal remains pending as municipal authorities consider the petition and the concerns raised by the borough’s inhabitants.