Category: Advocacy and Organizing

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

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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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The fight for 214 – 230 Sherbourne: Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021

The fight for 214 – 230 Sherbourne:
When: Tuesday March 2nd, 2021
The Planning and Housing Committee is meeting on March 2nd but their report does not include the expropriation of 214-230 Sherbourne, but rather only a vague 2 paragraphs on the issue. The desperate need for housing at that corner cannot be ignored. There are a few actions that you can do to support:
a. Email the members of the Planning and Housing Committee to express your organization’s support for the immediate action to expropriate the property at 214-230 Sherbourne to build social housing:

–       Ana Bailao  councillor_bailao@toronto.ca

–       Brad Bradford  councillor_bradford@toronto.ca

–       Paula Fletcher  councillor_fletcher@toronto.ca

–       Frances Nunziata  councillor_nunziata@toronto.ca

–       Gord Perks  councillor_perks@toronto.ca

–       Kristyn Wong-Tam  councillor_wongtam@toronto.ca

b. Email Abigail Bond, Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to use the City staff to act now to proceed with the expropriation of 214-230 SHerboune

–       Abigail Bond  Abigail.bond@toronto.ca

c. Make a deputation (or submit in writing) to the March 2nd Planning and Housing Committee meeting to advocate that the City pursue the purchase or expropriation of the site for social housing now given the current shelter and housing crisis. Email the clerk to submit or sign up for a deputation: phc@toronto.ca
If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Windhager at lindsayw@regentparkchc.org.

TDIN Releases Advocacy Letter with Sign-on From 49 Organizations

On Wednesday, February 10, 2021, TDIN released a letter with other advocates: Demands for Immediate Action to Address COVID-related Risks and Harms for People Experiencing Homelessness.

This letter is calling on all three levels of government to take action to address the emergency situation of increasing COVID cases among people experiencing homelessness.

To read the letter or to sign on your organization, visit: tinyurl.com/3db3ov73

Demand the City Drop Legal Action Against Toronto Tiny Shelters: Two Phone and Email Zaps

Demand the City Drop Legal Action Against Toronto Tiny Shelters: Two Phone and Email Zaps
Join SURJ TO and ESN in two phone and email zaps in support of Toronto Tiny Shelters. Demand that the City of Toronto drop the notice of legal action against Khaleel Seivwright, create rent-geared to income housing, ban encampment evictions, end the criminalization of poverty, and defund the police – including Park Ambassadors. Registration for the event below:
 

Update: Recent legal action against Khaleel Seivwright

In light of the City placing an injunction against Khaleel and Tiny Shelters, watch Khaleel’s powerful video statement and demand that the City drop charges against him:
 
As well, if you haven’t already, please sign and share the petition by Toronto Tiny Shelters demanding that Tiny Shelters remain on City of Toronto Property: 
https://www.change.org/p/city-of-toronto-demand-to-allow-temporary-shelters-to-remain-on-toronto-city-land

ESN action to Serve John Tory

ESN has invited SHJN and network members attended this action to Serve John Tory (see below and updates in Media)
Sign and send this letter to John Tory and your City Councillor to demand that the city drop their legal actions against Khaleel, impose a moratorium on encampment clearings, and repeal the by-laws that make it illegal to camp in public parks.
————————-

COME ONE COME ALL!

SERVE MAYOR TORY

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28th

When: Sunday, February 28th, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Where: 248 Bloor Street W. ~ Bloor Bedford Parkette

How it works:

Come to Bloor Bedford Parkette anytime between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Volunteers will be present to provide you with a copy of our notice of action from the Superior Court of the People, which you can then sign and deliver to Mayor Tory at his place of residence. We’re inviting Mayor Tory to come down and meet us, but if he doesn’t we’ll have a proxy there for him.

This is a family-friendly event and we will be marshalling to ensure everyone keeps physical distance as we line up to serve John Tory. Pretend it’s HomeSense. Don’t congregate and linger. Wear PPE.

Accessibility: closest accessible subway station is St. George

We will have accessibility marshalls on hand. It is a short walk between Bloor Bedford Parkette and Mayor Tory’s Condominium. We do not know how long you will have to wait to serve John Tory, but we will have some chairs available.