TAKE SHELTER! Opening Up Metro Hall as Emergency Shelter: NO MORE HOMELESS DEATHS

TAKE SHELTER!

Opening Up Metro Hall as Emergency Shelter: NO MORE HOMELESS DEATHS

Thursday, March 7th

11.00 AM

Metro Hall: King and John St, Toronto

The City of Toronto refuses to admit that the homeless shelter system is

in a lethal crisis of overcrowding. By the City's own admission, shelters

are operating at 96% capacity. This means conditions of overcrowding and

tension - people are being forced onto the streets and lives are being

lost. Every effort has been made to convince both the administration and

politicians to act and open an emergency facility, but they have refused.

On February 20th, City Council refused even to debate the issue.

In 1999, the City gave Hostel Services the right to open more space

whenever the capacity in the shelters exceeded 90%. During that year,

Metro Hall was opened for a time so that the pressure on the rest of the

shelter system could be eased. Today the crisis is even worse - and the

Rob Ford administration is not only denying it, but making it worse. There

have been at least 8 homeless deaths since the beginning of 2013, and 34

deaths in 2012 alone.

If the City will not act then we will. On March 7, we are going back to

Metro Hall to open it as a shelter ourselves. We are calling on all

homeless people - those of you on the streets - who need shelter to join

us that day, as well as front-line workers, unions, community

organizations, church congregations and people of conscience to come and

stand with us for the basic human right to shelter. If you are someone who

does not wish to live in a City where people are abandoned to die on the

streets, then join us on March 7!

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT/GET INVOLVED:

-Help us get the word out, join us on the day! Forward this announcement

to everyone you can, drop off flyers at every drop-in space and meal.

-Have your organization or union local write a public statement supporting

opening up Metro Hall as emergency shelter space

-Collect and drop off donations on the day. We need: Sleeping bags,

Blankets and pillows, Mats or mattresses

-On the day we will also welcome donations of: Coffee and snacks, Order

pizza and other meals for us, Books, board games, music and performances,

etc

Please call our office at (416) 925-6939 if you can help with these items

or, better yet, drop by Metro Hall at 11.00 AM on Thursday and deliver

them to us.

Thank you for all support and solidarity in this vital action.

See information about past events on this issue here:

http://www.ocap.ca/node/1061

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/278184258978285/

The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP)

www.ocap.ca

@OCAPtoronto

416-925-6939

For March 7th use: #TakeShelter #nohomelessdeaths

Executive Committee removes controversial sale of Toronto Community Housing homes from the January 24th agenda.

MEDIA ADVISORY
January 23, 2012

Confusion, uncertainty continue to plague hasty social housing selloff
Tenants dismayed at chaotic process driving potential sale of their homes
...
TORONTO - After the close of business today and less than 24 hours before the meeting commences, the Executive Committee has removed the controversial sale of Toronto Community Housing homes from the January 24th agenda.

Tenants expressed concern at the chaotic process that seems to be directing the proposed sale of over 700 homes. Confusion over how many homes would be sold, which homes are actually available for sale and how affected tenants would be treated have caused anxiety among social housing residents and concern among many Councillors.

This evening’s abrupt decision to cancel the roughly 75 deputations scheduled for tomorrow afternoon have created further concern that there is no real plan and little clarity about the proposed sale, despite its significant impact on tenants.

When: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 10:00a.m.

Who: Tenants For Social Housing Tenants will be available for

Where: City Hall Press Gallery

For more information please contact:

Effie Vlachoyannacos Susan Gapka

416-706-4405 (cell) 647-882-2776 (cell)



TENANTS FOR SOCIAL HOUSING

WE ARE NOT FOR $ALE!

socialhousingtenants@gmail.com

www.tenantsforsocialhousing.com

* Tenants for Social Housing a tenant-led, volunteer organization that came together when City Council removed the Toronto Community Housing Board and replaced it with the one man Board of Case Ootes. We are concerned about the massive sell-off of social housing in Toronto.

Community Consultation Meeting for St. Jamestown N. Lanterrra Development

St. Jamestown North Development Proposal.

After attending the Community Consultation Meeting on November 7th at St. Simon's on Bloor St. E. I have the following concerns regarding the proposed development.

1. Although the consideration of privately owned, public space seems on the surface to be a move in the right direction, I have reservations around the security and upkeep ...of the space and if it will indeed be seen by the general public to be that of a regular park, or would the condo security personnel be employed to limit public accessibility and usage? Would local residents be able to walk dogs there? Would they have access in the evening or nighttime hours?

2. The idea of the double row of trees along Howard and Bloor streets seems initially impressive, however, I have concerns regarding who would ultimately be responsible for the care and maintenance of these trees? Would the condo corporation, or would the cost be transferred to general taxpayers? If it is the latter, when would such a transfer of responsibility take place?

3. I have concerns with the current and future state of the Glen Road TTC entrance, which by most accounts is unsafe and dangerous. Does the development proposal include and security improvements for this TTC access point? How would the TTC handle the increase in ridership that would undoubtedly occur?

4. There seems to be no consideration for alternative housing options such as rent to own, or subsidized housing. In fact, the only mention of anything for the community was one space that "could be used for the community". I feel this is a missed opportunity. This development is a great opportunity to bridge the neighborhoods of Rosedale and St. Jamestown and is missing the mark.

5. I would like to see this development incorporate an higher than normal number of 2 and 3 bedroom units in order to encourage families to live within the development.

6. With regards to height concerns, I am STRONGLY opposed to the current proposed tower heights of; 48, 49, 43 and 53 stories. The current zoning does not allow for structures of this height, in fact, the current zoning doesn't allow for the height of the proposed podium along Howard St. (see image above). I do believe there is a place for population intensification, however, the current proposal is far to outlandish and unacceptable. I propose the tallest tower should be no more that 25 stories. I'm also concerned with the effects the current proposal would have on wind and sunlight in the area.

7. I am concerned with the proposed demolition of 76 Howard St. and would be opposed to this facet of the proposal. I would like to see this building utilized and possibly moved, if necessary.

8. There is much concern with the construction process with regards to security, cleanliness, noise and potential damage to existing structures in the neighborhood.

9. Finally, what I have seen of the general designs so far is uninspired, boring, tedius and considering Lanterra Development's record, potentially dangerous.

60 Richmond

Alex Bozikovic has posted an informative article and very nice pictures of the new Toronto Community Housing building on his blog; nomeancity. The post is also featured on the Spacing Toronto blog. It is expected the building will attain Gold LEED certification, which is great news for the city and the environment. Along with being visually interesting the building features a centre atrium that will eventually be covered with green vines and such, bright hallways with windows and a couple of very nice courtyards. According to Toronto Community Housing 59 of the units are designated Regent Park replacement units. The building features one, two, three and even some four bedroom apartments.

Grow Housing Toronto

The following is from http://growhousingtoronto.com

According to the Toronto Star there is a $1 billion funding gap in affordable housing in Toronto. This is of direct impact to the more then 65,000 people currently on the City of Toronto’s waiting list who are waiting for affordable housing. There is also a growing consensus of the need for new developments to be environmentally sensitive. What is needed is a new model for affordable housing; a model that learns from past mistakes and builds off past successes. Toronto needs a model that develops housing while providing jobs and improving the community and the environment. GROW Housing seeks to establish this new model.


GROW Housing, currently a conceptual proposal, utilizes an innovative sustainable design strategy to facilitate the creation of affordable housing. The model was developed to mimic the cyclical flow of resources exhibited by the natural world. To create this system, a vertical farm, Living Machine®, and methane digester have been merged with a residential development providing housing for 1,000 residents.

Chris Tindal