Vote to expropriate 214-230 Sherbourne lost but the fight continues

Toronto

April 7, 2022

Yesterday – City Council voted 20-5 against the expropriation of 214-230 Sherbourne for much needed social housing. Mayor Tory and Deputy Mayor Bailão argued against saving the community of Dundas and Sherbourne, against investing in the generational resource of public housing for poor people in that neighborhood and the uplifting of the whole community.

“For the developers the property is about profits. For the City, the question of expropriation is about money. For our community it is about housing people; it is about life and death. By refusing to expropriate, they are bowing to the developers and, thereby, facilitating the destruction of our community,” says Dr. A. J. Withers from the Shelter and Housing Justice Steering Committee. An additional motion to try to protect the corner by seeking to purchase the adjoining plaza for the development of housing lost 10-15.

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Press Conference and Rally to Expropriate 214-230 Sherbourne St. at City Council

Wed Apr 06, 2022

Media Advisory:

From Regent Park Community Health Centre Advocacy Committee and the Shelter & Housing Justice Network

Wednesday April 6th:

9:00AM – press conference and rally Toronto City Hall

9:30AM – City Council – pack council chambers to demonstrate support for the expropriation of 214-230 Sherbourne for social rent geared to income housing

Hosted by Regent Park Community Health Centre Advocacy Committee

Speakers to include – Shelter Housing Justice Network, Councillor Kristyn Wong Tam, Toronto Drop-in Network, Downtown East End community  members

The City of Toronto’s bid to purchase 214-230 Sherbourne was lost.  However, the City still has the power to expropriate the property and turn it into desperately needed rent geared to income housing.  The out of control real estate market and private profit should not take precedence over the lives and safety of human beings.

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Panel Discussion: Inside Toronto’s Shelter System

Announcing: Special Shelter, Housing Justice Network Special Panel Discussion and GMM
When: April 4th at 6pm
Where: Zoom
The first hour of the meeting will be a panel discussion; the remaining 30 minutes will be our regular meeting. Full agenda will come soon. Those looking to join SHJN as a member welcome, as well as those just looking to attend the panel.
The panel will feature speakers who have lived in Toronto’s shelter system. They will talk about some of their experiences and we will have time for questions and discussion.
Featuring:
Lisa LeBlanc is a founding member of the Shelter Video Project Collective, she has been in the shelter system for a long time. Lisa speaks to both the experience of people living with disabilities, chemical sensitivity and food allergies, and the trauma impacts of the shelter system as a whole.
Jennifer Jewell is an empath, artist and vocal advocate. Her politics lie at the intersection of disability, poverty and homelessness.
Sandi Guignard is a harm reduction worker in an overdose prevention site. She is an advocate for poverty reduction, more housing, safe shelters, and has done deputations at city hall, walked in many protests and has lived experience with homelessness and substances.
More info, including the full meeting agenda to come soon.
Visit http://www.shjn.ca/ to Subscribe to our newsletters and make use of our digital toolkits!

Take Action: 214-230 Sherbourne Street

214-230 Sherbourne – Call for Expropriation Now!

Visit the SHJN Electronic Toolkit for social media images, and ongoing updates! 

We have been informed that the City’s bid for 214-230 Sherbourne was not successful. However, the City still has the power to expropriate the property and turn it into desperately needed rent geared to income housing.  The out of control real estate market and private profit should not take precedence over the lives and safety of human beings.

The property at 214-230 Sherbourne St. has sat vacant for over 10 years while the ravages of the housing and homelessness crisis decimate a community outside its doors. A 30 room mansion should not be left vacant while people freeze to death outside.  This land has now been sold to developers who will no doubt try to develop it into condos that will further displace disproportionately Black and Indigenous people from their neighbourhood. The municipal, provincial and federal governments should not be allowed to ignore this situation and turn their backs on the people who have a right to live and a right to basic shelter and housing.

Enough is enough.  Regardless of who owns the property at 214-230 Sherbourne – it is in the public’s best interest for the City to take action now to expropriate. Continue reading →

Media Release: Advocates Call for Expropriation of 214-230 Sherbourne St. After City Loses Bid

Regent Park Community Health Centre Advocacy Committee and the Shelter and Housing Justice Network are disappointed that, after nearly 10 years of organizing by many organizations and people in the community, the City of Toronto has failed to purchase the property at 214-230 Sherbourne Street. However, the City has the power to expropriate the site for social housing.

“We now call on Mayor John Tory, the members of the Planning and Housing Committee, the Executive Committee and all of Toronto City Council to expropriate this land and create 100% rent-geared-to-income social housing units,” says Josie Ricciardi, manager of community health programs at Regent Park Community Health Centre and spokesperson for Regent Park Community Health Centre Advocacy Committee.

A report on the “Revitalization for the downtown east” will be on the Toronto City Council Planning and Housing Committee agenda  on March 25th and on March 30 a report back from staff on the bid to purchase the property will be going to the Executive Committee. The community is mobilizing a call for the City to proceed with expropriation immediately. Continue reading →