THE FEDS MUST TAKE ACTION ON HOUSING!!!!

The 2021 Federal Budget is dropping on Monday!
The housing crisis in Toronto and across Canada has gone past critical. Affordability, supply, homelessness…all are spiraling out of control. Since the Feds got out of creating social housing in the 90’s, the situation has gotten progressively worse. PLEASE SHARE:
Who to Contact?
1. MP Ahmed Hussen (York South – Weston) Minister for (National Housing Strategy) (Family, Children & Social Development)
Email: Ahmed.Hussen@parl.gc.ca
2. MP Adam Vaughan (Spadina – Fort York) Parliamentary Secretary
Email: Adam.Vaughan.c1@parl.gc.ca
Ph: 416-533-2710

3.Toronto Liberal MPs (or call/email them):  Arif Virani, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Carolyn Bennett, Chrystia Freeland, Bill Blair and others, and of course Justin Trudeau!

FIND YOUR MP AND CONTACT THEM!!
Thanks to Toronto Drop-in Network, Better Dwelling, David Hulchanski, Joy Connelly and others.

Thurs, Apr 1, 2021: DAY 03! Federal Demands Day of Action

Visit SHJN Facebook Page

Justin Trudeau and the Federal Government need to step up now!  Toronto is in crisis and #WeDeamndActionTO! The housing crisis in Toronto is at an all time high, making it near impossible to find pathways out of homelessness.  COVID-19 outbreaks are rampant in Toronto shelter spaces, isolation spaces are full, encampments are being harmfully evicted (#NoEncampmentEvictions ) – the Liberals must take real action on housing now! See the demands of over 60 organizations in Toronto, representing countless frontline & healthcare workers, outreach and volunteer networks, faith groups and more. Read our letter and list of demands to the City, the Province and Federal Governments here: https://docs.google.com/…/1iGR5k4epEX3vu8Tby3M9x0R…/edit

WATCH:

Featured speakers from Toronto Drop-in Networks press event:

1. Susan Bender, Manager, Toronto Drop-in Network: https://youtu.be/f2v0YCUavao?t=91

2. Victor Willis, Executive Director, Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre PARC : https://youtu.be/f2v0YCUavao?t=669

Rt. Rev. Andrew Asbil, Bishop of Toronto, Anglican Diocese of Toronto: https://youtu.be/f2v0YCUavao?t=420

LET THEM KNOW!
Share this post and Contact the below Federal officials and demand action!

1. Reach out to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and these Toronto Liberal MPs today!:

Adam Vaughan, Arif Virani, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Carolyn Bennett, Marci Ien, Bill Blair, Chrystia Freeland

3. Contact Your Local MP (if not above)

Wed, March 31, 2021: DAY 02! Provincial Demands Day of Action

It’s time to call out (Doug) FordNation and the Ontario Provincial Government! #WeDemandActionTO – The crisis with COVID outbreaks and conditions in Toronto shelter spaces is critical – isolation spaces are full, positive clients are being sent back to shelters to try and isolate, the Ford’s Government’s refusal to fund supportive housing, prevent evictions and other initiatives in Toronto is shameful. See the demands of over 60 organizations in Toronto, representing countless frontline & healthcare workers, outreach and volunteer networks, faith groups and more. Doug Ford and the Conservatives must act now!!!! Read our letter and list of demands to the City, the Province and Federal Governments here: https://docs.google.com/…/1iGR5k4epEX3vu8Tby3M9x0R…/edit
WATCH:
These are featured speakers from Toronto Drop-in Network’s March 11th press event:
1. Dr. Naheed Dosani, Palliative Care Physician, St. Michael’s Hospital: https://youtu.be/f2v0YCUavao?t=254
2. Myriam Frausto, Frontline Worker, Sistering 24 Hour Drop In: https://youtu.be/f2v0YCUavao?t=887
3. Melisa Bayon, Interim Executive Director, Progress Toronto: https://youtu.be/f2v0YCUavao?t=1116
HOW TO HELP:

Share this post, and also, Toronto can get 1,100 new supportive housing units this year but the Province has to step up and fund it! Join our friends at Progress Toronto and send an urgent message (which you can edit to add additional demands) to your MPP and the Premier to fund supportive housing now: https://www.progresstoronto.ca/end-homelessness

LET THEM KNOW!

Contact the below Provincial officials and demand action!

1. Doug Ford, FordNation: Twitter @FordNation, Phone: 416-325-1941, premier@ontario.ca
2. Toronto’s Conservative (and former) MPPs on Twitter (or call/email!):
Vincent Ke, Robin Martin, Kinga Surma, Christine Hogarth MPP, Aris Babikian, Christina Mitas, Raymond Cho, Stan Cho, (frmr)
Roman Baber
3. Contact Your Local MPP (if not above)

March 30, 31, & April 1, 2021: Take part in 3 Days of Urgent Action this week! 

We are asking you to take part in 3 Days of Urgent Action this week! 
We are following up on the letter and demands we all signed earlier this month regarding the urgent actions needed to support people experiencing homelessness in Toronto. Currently, the spiraling COVID outbreaks in multiple sites, the lack of isolation spaces, the oppressive eviction actions in encampments, the lack of critical housing and supports funding in the Provincial budget and so much more demand immediate attention. We held a powerful press event on March 11 to present these demands, however, the lack of dedicated responses to our demands has only worsened an already dire situation.

We are holding 3 days of targeted awareness and action, one day each for every level of government. 

Tues March 30 – City of Toronto 
Wed March 31 – Province of Ontario
Thur April 01 – Federal Government

 

Today we are telling John Tory and the City of Toronto: #WeDemandActionTO & #NoEncampmentEvictions! The crisis with COVID outbreaks and conditions in Toronto shelter spaces is critical -isolation spaces are full, positive clients are being sent back to shelters to try and isolate…and the looming forced eviction of encampment residents is unacceptable. See the demands of over 60 organizations in Toronto, representing countless frontline & healthcare workers, outreach and volunteer networks, faith groups and more. This City must act now!!!

Read our letter and list of demands to the City, the Province and Federal Governments here: https://docs.google.com/…/1iGR5k4epEX3vu8Tby3M9x0R…/edit
WATCH:

These are featured speakers from Toronto Drop-in Network’s March 11th press event, presenting the different demands to the City:

1. Leigh Kern, Reverend, Toronto Urban Native Ministry: https://youtu.be/f2v0YCUavao?t=2650
2. Brian Cleary, Former Shelter Resident: https://youtu.be/f2v0YCUavao?t=2066
3. Angie and Gru, Former Encampment Residents: https://youtu.be/f2v0YCUavao?t=2286
4. Calvin Henschell -Regent Park Community Health Centre: https://youtu.be/f2v0YCUavao?t=1449
5. Melody Grant -Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre: https://youtu.be/f2v0YCUavao?t=1287
6. Maria Scotton & Danny Anckle, Cecil Centre: https://youtu.be/f2v0YCUavao?t=1712
7. Alex Statham and Tiina Eldridge, West Neighbourhood House: https://youtu.be/f2v0YCUavao?t=3182
8. A.J. Withers, Shelter and Housing Justice Network: https://youtu.be/f2v0YCUavao?t=3408
HOW TO HELP:
Spread these demands and message, but also, our friends at the Encampment Support Network (ESN) have put out an urgent call to action (use this amazing tool kit here) regarding the April 6th eviction date the City of Toronto has posted for encampment residents. Please take part to protect our neighbours!!! Use #NoEncampmentEvictions and #ShareThePark .
LET THEM KNOW!
Contact the below City officials and demand action!
1. Mayor John Tory, 416-397-2489, mayor_tory@toronto.ca, TW: @john_tory , TW: @CityofToronto
2. Gord Perks, Ward 4, Parkdale-High Park, 416-392-7919 , councillor_perks@toronto.ca, TW: @gordperks
3. Kristyn Wong-Tam: Ward 13, Toronto Centre, 416-392-7903 , councillor_wongtam@toronto.ca , TW: @kristynwongtam
4. Joe Cressy: Ward 10, Spadina-Fort York, Chair of Health Board, 416-392-4044 , councillor_cressy@toronto.ca , TW: @joe_cressy
5. Mike Layton: Ward 11, University-Rosedale, 416-392-4009, councillor_layton@toronto.ca , TW: @m_layton
6. Contact Your Local Councillor (if not above)

March 25, 2021: OCAP Speaker Series: Tenant Organizing in Toronto, 7PM

https://www.facebook.com/events/3669772673076105/

Join us tonight, March 25th at 7pm for the relaunch of OCAP’s Speaker Series.

This month features a discussion on Tenant Organizing, with special speakers from Parkdale Organize, People’s Defence, and Inglewood Arms, as the struggle against pandemic evictions and gentrification in the city continues…

Who you’ll be hearing from:

Parkdale Organize is a group of working class people who organize for neighbourhood power. On Saturday, March 27 at 11am there will be a rally for tenants at 55 Triller who have been accused of “illegal acts” and targeted for eviction by the largest landlord in Canada for organizing in their building against disrepair, disrespect and dangerous conditions. As we discuss the eviction crisis and methods of organizing, let us also discuss how we can support and defend tenant organizing in this city that is currently under attack.

People’s Defence was launched in 2017, to establish REAL POWER for OUR CLASS (Poor, Immigrant, and Working-Class People) across the City. Our work is not limited to actions and protests. We’ve organized Tenant Unions door-to-door, and fought together against Corporate Slumlords. We haven’t just gone on rent strike, or stopped people from being evicted; but set up mutual-aid networks, got repairs and sanitation done, distributed food, and come to the defense of individual community members. The need to dismantle Neoliberalism and Neocolonialism has never been clearer. This will be a long battle, but it starts with getting organized & taking a stand in our buildings, schools and workplaces.

The Inglewood Arms is downtown Toronto rooming house that has been home for more than 90 people, many of whom have long term tenancies of up to 10 year. Inglewood provides marginally affordable housing for low income people with fixed incomes and a range of vulnerability issues. It is now for sale and facing the likelihood of purchase by a large corporate developer. Tenants rightly fear they will lose both their housing and their community. OCAP is working with the community in an effort to support tenant resistance activity that can protect their housing rights and prevent displacement into Toronto’s current homeless catastrophe.

Hope to see you there!

OCAP Toronto is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: OCAP Speakers Series
Time: Mar 25, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88295186250?pwd=a3EwLy9JUEVNdlVxQ0NkTHZvcFB0UT09

Meeting ID: 882 9518 6250
Passcode: 778320
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March 2, 2021: Toronto Star TTC drivers want support for homeless riding transit

TTC drivers want support for homeless riding transit during COVID-19 crisis

“As public transit workers we are compassionate individuals, but at the end of the day, we are not social workers,” the petition reads. “We demand that all levels of government mobilize the resources to solve this crisis immediately.”

Roxie Danielson of the Street Nurse Network said many of those in Toronto experiencing homelessness have been forced outside during the pandemic because places where they normally take refuge like libraries or coffee shops are no longer open.

The shelter system houses 6,000 people a night but is at capacity—in recent weeks occupancy at men’s facilities was at 99.9 per cent—and many won’t stay in city shelters out of fear of catching COVID-19, especially now that variants of concern have been identified at some sites.

“As it stands right now it’s so difficult to get somebody a safe place to stay, so the TTC really is the next best option (for many),” Danielson said.

She acknowledged people experiencing homelessness can pose challenges for TTC employees, especially if they aren’t trained to deal with someone who is in crisis or using drugs. But she said homeless residents shouldn’t be blamed for seeking out one of the few remaining safe spaces in the city.

“I place the blame squarely on our government. Had we had enough funding for more housing, for more mental health and addiction supports then this wouldn’t be happening,” she said.

“Nobody should have to sleep on the TTC because they can’t get a bed somewhere.”