Home / Health / Coroner Blasts Health System Over Homeless Man's Death
Coroner Blasts Health System Over Homeless Man's Death
25 Sep
Summary
- Homeless man died after his urgent housing request was denied.
- Coroner cited a missed opportunity to coordinate care for him.
- Health authority acknowledges concerns and has established new protocols.
A Quebec coroner has recommended improvements to the health-care system's communication protocols following the tragic death of a 71-year-old homeless man in Montreal. The man died on February 28, 2026, two minutes after lying down in a traffic lane, two weeks after his urgent housing request was denied. He had been homeless since 2023 and had numerous hospitalizations, often related to alcohol consumption and mental health issues.
A social worker from the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve CLSC submitted an urgent housing request on January 30, 2026, citing the man's increasing vulnerability. The request was denied on February 12, 2026, with the response stating, "Given the absence of a formal medical assessment, the application is denied."
Coroner Mylène Servant highlighted that the refusal lacked clear reasons for correction, an escalation mechanism, or referral to an interim solution. She noted that all required documents were submitted, and the stated reason for denial seemed to contradict the submitted information. Servant recommended that refused housing requests be escalated to ensure user safety and prevent service disruption during crises.
Santé Québec acknowledged that the death raises significant concerns and stated that a reporting mechanism for denied housing requests has been established. They recognized the complexity of cases involving homelessness, addiction, and mental health, and affirmed a commitment to better support vulnerable individuals.
