A coroner’s report is shedding light on the death of a Montreal man who was forced from his Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension home last winter. However, community advocates say the report stops short of recommending changes needed to prevent another tragedy. Manjeet Singh was without a home for six days when he died last January. He was found outside, with the temperature recorded at -15 degrees Celsius. The coroner explained that the 42-year-old was forced to leave his home “following a dispute or a situation involving his roommates.” It concluded that Singh’s death was caused by the “combined effects of acute alcohol intoxication and environmental hypothermia.” Farid Benakli with Table de Quartier de Parc-Extension, which works closely with vulnerable people in the neighbourhood, said he’s concerned by what the report left out. “The absence of any recommendation is a missed opportunity,” he said. “A man froze to death in a neighbourhood with no adult shelter and no warming centre, and that fact alone calls for action.” He argued that Singh’s death highlights gaps already raised by community advocates, including the fact that Parc-Extension only has a shelter for those aged 18 to 25 and no warming shelter. Benakli added that many residents can face additional barriers. “When you don’t speak the language, and you have these precarious immigration statuses, you cannot have a job, you cannot sign a lease on your own,” he said. “You’re really dependent.” The housing crisis is making the situation worse, he noted. “We have many people in the same apartment because it’s really hard to find place. The rise of rent in Montreal has a big impact on this population,” said Benakli, arguing that people in crisis need a place to turn before it’s too late. “Not having the adapted resources, it can be a matter of life and death.” The coroner’s report comes as Quebec prepares for a public inquiry into the deaths of unhoused individuals in Montreal. With the Quebec election slated for Oct. 5, Benakli said he hopes the parties take action so Singh’s death won’t be ignored.
