Social housing protesters to occupy Montreal lot for several nights

Dozens of protesters intend to spend several nights on a lot near the Lachine Canal to launch a week of protests for better social housing across Quebec.

Social housing group FRAPRU lead protesters from Lionel-Groulx Metro station to a federally-owned propertyat the foot of the old Canada Malting Company plant.

The group said the owner's initial plans to turn the silos into condos were thwarted after social and community groups put pressure on the Southwest borough to stop it.

Sunday's campout marks the first of many occupations planned for the coming days. They are meant to highlight several places that could be used for social housing but currently remain vacant.

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FRAPRU wants the federal government to commit at least $2 billion a year to social housing programs across the country, estimating a quarter of that would be needed for Quebec.

The group also wants the Quebec government to put more money into social housing.

Ideally, it wants the two governments to kick in enough cash together to have 50,000 social housing units up and running in Quebec within the next five years.

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Montreal police closely followed the march but left soon after protesters set up camp.