Montreal's mayor has written the province asking for more money to help the city's homeless, after police shot and killed a homeless man with mental health problems along with an innocent bystander in June.

40-year-old Mario Hamel and a passerby, 36-year-old hospital worker Patrick Limoges, were shot to death by Montreal police on June 7.

Police were pursuing Hamel, whom officers said was wielding a knife. When they fired and killed Hamel, a bullet also struck and killed Limoges.

Days later, Mayor Gérald Tremblay sent Premier Jean Charest a request for increased resources.

Jocelyn Ann Campbell, the executive committee member responsible for social services in Montreal, wrote provincial Health Minister Yves Bolduc with the same request.

"The tragedy highlights the need for health services for homeless people in downtown Montreal," wrote Campbell at the time.

Campbell asked Bolduc to triple the staff of a mobile team – two police officers and two health care workers – that helps homeless people in Montreal .

"There is a real need to reserve emergency beds for homeless people in crisis. This is clear. People working in homeless shelters don't know where to send them," said Campbell.

Tremblay's letter to the premier stressed many of these people have mental health problems.

The province's written response to the city said it will consider the request.

With files from Radio-Canada