MONTREAL, Oct. 15, 2026 /CNW/ -- Poverty in Greater Montreal is not only more widespread than we might think; it also appears to be more entrenched. According to a new study conducted by Centraide of Greater Montreal and the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), 26% of adults spent at least one year below the poverty line between 2016 and 2023. Of these, 14% experienced persistent poverty, lasting three to eight years, while the other 12% experienced temporary poverty, lasting one to two years.
Of those living below the poverty line in the Montreal metropolitan area in 2022, more than 70% were in the same situation the following year. This highlights how difficult it can be to overcome poverty. Women, seniors aged 65 and older and immigrants are more likely to experience persistent poverty, i.e., poverty lasting three to eight years. This timeframe reflects the period covered by the study and does not mean that poverty ends after eight years.
Seniors are particularly affected by this reality. Among adults aged 65 or older, the percentage who had experienced highly persistent poverty climbed from 1% between 1992 and 1999 to 11% between 2016 and 2023. This increase is indicative of the growing economic vulnerability within the older segment of the population.
"These results are deeply troubling and shed light on a situation that most of us know very little about. In Montreal, not only is the risk of entering poverty higher than in other cities in Quebec, but once someone has crossed below the poverty line, it can be hard to get back above it," said Tasha Lackman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Centraide of Greater Montreal. "We have to take action on multiple fronts to keep people from falling into poverty in the first place, to support those who are experiencing it and to address the conditions that contribute to this persistence."
"The proportion of low-income earners in the adult population hovers between 10% and 12% in any given year, but that only explains part of the reality of poverty," said INRS Professor Xavier St-Denis, author of the study. "When we observe the situation over several years, we can see that a much higher proportion of adults face poverty at one point or another. The risk also varies depending on where they live and can be several times higher in certain parts of Greater Montreal."
Known solutions, a need for immediate action
The solutions outlined in the study are already well known and include building social housing at a faster pace, ensuring people have access to adequate income, and continuing to make daycare services accessible to facilitate participation in the labour market.
We must now step up these efforts and mobilize all stakeholders--governments, municipalities, parapublic institutions, private businesses, community organizations and philanthropic organizations--to have a tangible impact on poverty.
Significant disparities across Greater Montreal
The study was based on data drawn from nearly 100 geographic areas on the Island of Montreal, in Laval and on the South Shore. It is one of the most detailed profiles of persistent poverty and local disparities ever prepared.
The Island of Montreal stands out in particular, with the highest rates of long-term poverty observed in several neighbourhoods in the central and eastern parts of the Island.
The study also provides insight into the link between persistent poverty and housing problems. In Montreal, the areas where long-term poverty is the most widespread are also those where difficulties finding adequate housing are most prevalent.
In contrast, in neighbourhoods where there is more subsidized housing, households appear to be better protected from these problems. The study's findings therefore emphasize the need to make more social and affordable housing options available.
For more information, please visit this web page.
To read the full study (in French only), click here. An executive summary is available here.
About Centraide of Greater Montreal
A true agent of change, Centraide of Greater Montreal is a public foundation whose mission is to bring people together and take action for an inclusive and poverty-free Greater Montreal. To achieve this goal, it supports a network of 375 community agencies and projects in Laval, in Montreal and on the South Shore that improve the living conditions of people in a situation of poverty. Centraide works with the Greater Montreal population and with communities, businesses, institutions and philanthropic organizations. For more information or to contribute to Centraide's campaign: centraide-mtl.org.
About INRS
The Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) is an academic institution dedicated exclusively to graduate research and training in strategic sectors in Quebec. Since 1969, as per its mission, it has actively contributed to Quebec's economic, social, and cultural development. INRS ranks first in Quebec in research intensity. It is made up of five interdisciplinary research and training centres located in Quebec City, Montreal, Laval, and Varennes, and Charlevoix, which focus their efforts on strategic sectors: water, earth, and environment (Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre); energy, materials, and telecommunications (Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research Centre); urbanization, culture, and society (Urbanisation Culture Société Research Centre); and health and biotechnology (Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Research Centre), and Ruralités durables. Its community includes nearly 1,500 members, including students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty members, and staff.
SOURCE Centraide of Greater Montreal
For more information: Annick Gagnon, Public Relations Advisor, Centraide of Greater Montreal, 514-437-3672, [email protected]; Julie Robert, Scientific Outreach and Media Relations Specialist, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), [email protected]
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