Toronto Drop-In NetworkDrop-In News - TDIN Co-authors Letter RE: Encampments; 207 Organizations, Community Leaders Sign On

UPDATE (July 15): City Council and specifically John Tory did not add A Path Forward to City Council's agenda.

Read our statement here: https://www.change.org/p/john-tory-and-city-council-add-a-path-forward-to-city-council-s-agenda-and-adopt-it-as-policy/u/29340418

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With key input from advocates and people with lived experience in encampments and shelters, TDIN has co-authored a letter, A Path Forward, demanding that Mayor John Tory and the City end the forcible removal of encampments and police use-of-force against unhoused people, and commit to a human rights-compliant approach to engaging with unhoused people.

This letter has been signed by over 200 organizations, community and creative leaders in Toronto, who are asking Mayor Tory to consider the letter at July 14th's City Council by adding it to Council's agenda.

For more information, please contact engage@tdin.ca or tdintraining@tngcs.org.

Sign the petition to get A Path Forward considered at City Council on July 14: http://chng.it/LZPHD5gk

The 'A Path Forward' Letter (read below)

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Dear Mayor Tory,

We, the undersigned, have worked together to present to you a path forward to ensure that the actions taken by the City to remove people from Trinity-Bellwoods Park on Tuesday June 22^nd, 2021, are never repeated. Using armed police officers on horseback and in riot gear to remove residents who are vulnerable to Toronto’s unaffordable housing market due to inadequate social supports, has no place in a caring, compassionate society. Instead, we must commit to taking a human rights compliant approach toward housing encampment residents that is co-created with encampment residents. 

A tent in a park is no one’s first option, and we understand that parks cannot be a permanent housing solution. However, the forcible removal of encampment residents must end. This inflicts further trauma on already vulnerable Torontonians and does not address the issues you are trying to solve. This approach just relocates people to another park, underneath a bridge, or, worse, back to an unsafe living situation that led them to a tent in the first place.

We believe there is a better way.

A coalition of Torontonians, including those with lived experience in encampments and shelters, housing advocates and experts, civic leaders, former mayors, and your colleagues on Council, have worked together to present the following recommendations we strongly urge you to present at the July 14^th meeting of City Council.

A Human Rights Compliant Approach toward Residents in Encampments:

1. Reconsider the motion moved by Councillor Layton at Council on June 8^th, 2021 to provide safe indoor shelter and housing opportunities for residents of encampments that ensures the safety and dignity of encampment residents and frontline staff. This should be done using a collaborative approach that includes consultation with relevant staff, organizations serving the homeless population and focused on the right to housing and, most importantly, residents with lived experience of homelessness.
2. Ensure that all City directed activity and programs related to encampment abide by the National Protocol for Homeless Encampments in Canada.
3. Recognize that residents are rights-holders who have the ability to make informed decisions regarding their housing/living situation without threat of criminalization, or the use of coercive tactics or force.

· This includes an immediate end to the display and use of police force and military tactics, including ‘kettling’, in encampments to intimidate, threaten, coerce, or enforce the displacement of residents. 

4. Meaningful engagement with encampment residents and relevant organizations serving unhoused people to assist with navigating options regarding indoor space and housing. 

· Residents must be presented with full information regarding indoor space/housing options, and have the ability to choose a space appropriate for them. In order to ensure adequacy, residents should also be allowed to request reasonable changes to indoor space/housing options on offer;

· Residents should not be subject to harassment or intimidation. They should receive appropriate supports until an indoor space/housing option has been freely selected.

5. Upholding the specific recommendations of the Faulkner Inquest, as per Council’s commitment on June 8^th, and enhancing the provision of resources and supports to people residing in encampments where they are located. 
6. In order to ensure coherence with the shelter, hotel, and temporary accommodations offered and noting that residents of encampments often move inside and out of both encampments and temporary accommodation, management of the encampment file should be held under the Shelter, Support, and Housing Administration as opposed to Emergency Management Services. Emergency services should only be interacting with encampments on an as-needed basis, in the same way as they interact with the general population.

Providing a Safer and More Welcoming Space for Shelter Residents:

7. Recognize that shelters, at present, aren’t necessarily a safer option for unhoused Torontonians by reconsidering the motion moved by Councillor Josh Matlow on June 8^th:

· Review of existing advisory groups to Shelter, Support, and Housing Administration and establish an advisory committee of current and past shelter clients to provide advice to improve shelter operations for clients;

· Review of existing shelter and respite standards and operational practices to further enhance opportunities to provide a more welcoming environment, including, but not limited to, allowing food in room; 

· Review policies that restrict shelter access, including service restrictions, for reasons that are not direct threats to the health and safety of clients or staff, provide support to help clients meet shelter expectations, and ensure that restrictions are reviewed centrally to ensure transparency and accountability;

· Ensure that clients are able to meet with a housing and health care worker within the first week of arrival to understand their needs and develop a housing and health care plan;

· Independent audits of shelter operations to ensure the city’s shelter and respite policies are followed and that clients are regularly surveyed regarding their access to housing and health supports, and for feedback upon discharge;

· Ensure that clients are able to sleep and have privacy by reviewing and providing guidance on how to conduct “bed-checks” in a manner that respects client dignity and privacy while ensuring effective shelter operations;

· Provide supports to ensure nutritious meals are available for clients, as per their specific dietary needs and restrictions; and

· Affirm and ensure that the City’s policy to not permit strangers to be placed in a shared room together in shelter hotels and that clients have eligible possessions put in storage is adhered to and communicated to relevant stakeholders.

8. To encourage encampment residents to accept indoor spaces, further enhance the services and supports on-site, including:

· The provision of accessible and low-barrier harm reduction services, including Supervised Consumption Sites and Safe Supply, on location at all shelter sites;

· The provision of accessible, on-site healthcare services in partnership with healthcare agencies at all shelter locations;

· The provision of enhanced and consistent IPAC measures and staff training at all shelter locations;

· Appropriate accommodations for people living with disability specific to their individual health needs;

· More specific spaces and services appropriate to people’s identities, understanding that Indigenous, Black, and trans people are overrepresented among people experiencing homelessness;

· Ensuring the safety and security of people’s belongings, including their tents and sleeping bags.

9. The provision of full information on available shelter sites and greater transparency around the shelter system as a whole, including:

· The provision of location information, location photos, and any other relevant information regarding available shelter space as part of an offer of indoor space, and responding in full to questions and concerns regarding on-site amenities and services at specific shelter locations;

· Public updates around outbreaks of COVID-19, tuberculosis, Group A Streptococcus, and other communicable diseases within the shelter system, with outbreak sites identified by name.

10. Ensuring that shelter capacity does not exceed 90% so that space is readily available for any and all unhoused people seeking a shelter bed, understanding that the shelter system is an emergency service that must be available for anyone that needs it.
11. Ensuring a full transition plan to be presented to Council by October 2021 detailing next steps pending the expiry of shelter-hotel leases. This plan must be made in consultation with relevant organizations serving the unhoused population as well as unhoused people.

Moving Forward — toward permanent housing:

12. Through practice at the City and advocacy to senior levels of government, move away from actions that simply maintain the unaffordable private market, such as rent supplements, or rent banks. These measures should not be a primary component of Toronto’s affordable housing plan and should only be used in emergency situations.
13. Purpose-built, Rent-Geared-to-Income housing should be the City’s primary focus for affordable housing as the majority of people who are, have, or will experience homelessness are simply unable to afford rent, and are not chronically homeless.
14. Supportive housing is an important component, especially for people living with some forms of disability, mental health diagnosis, etc. Supports should be geared toward individual needs. 
15. Eviction prevention needs further enhancement — people entering into housing from homelessness should have support to build and maintain an eviction prevention plan for six months to one year; as well, to lessen the number of people experiencing homelessness in Toronto overall, the City should invest in upstream solutions like housing, but also drop-ins and housing help supports.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter that deeply affects residents of encampments, shelters, and their family and friends across Toronto that care about their future. We hope you will present and support the above measures at the next meeting of Council.

Sincerely,

Organizations

Accessible Housing Network

All Saints Church-Community Centre

Anishnawbe Health Toronto

Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention

Church of St. Stephen-in-the-Fields

Church of the Epiphany and St. Mark

Church of the Redeemer — The Common Table

Davenport Mutual Aid Network

Davenport Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre

Encampment Support Network

Fagdemic

Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations

Fontbonne Ministries

Friends of Ruby

Good to Be Good Foundation

Green Party of Ontario

Health Providers Against Poverty

Homeless Connect Toronto

Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Group, St. Matthew's United Church

Inner City Family Health Team

Inner City Health Associates

Native Women's Resource Centre of Toronto

Neighbourhood Pods TO

North York Community House

Ontario Coalition Against Poverty

Osgoode Environmental Justice Clinic

Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre

Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre

Progress Toronto

Queers Crash the Beat

Ralph Thornton Community Centre

Regent Park Community Health Centre

Right to Housing Toronto

Sanctuary

Seeds of Hope Foundation

Showing Up for Racial Justice — Toronto

Sistering

Social Justice & Advocacy Committee — Anglican Diocese of Toronto

Social Planning Toronto

South Riverdale Community Health Centre

Spadina-Fort York Community Care

Street Health

Street Nurses Network

Syme Woolner Neighbourhood and Family Centre

The Neighbourhood Group Community Services

The Stop Community Food Centre

Toronto Drop-in Network

Toronto Harm Reduction Alliance

Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction

Toronto Neighbourhood Centres

Toronto Overdose Prevention Society

Toronto Prisoners' Rights Project

Toronto Raging Grannies

Toronto Tiny Shelters

Unitarian Commons

Ve'ahavta

Voices of Scarborough (Scarborough Residents and Tenants)

Warden Woods Community Centre

West Neighbourhood House

West Scarborough Community Legal Services

Working For Change

Community Leaders and Academics

Abe Oudshoorn, Associate Professor, Nursing, Western University; Managing Editor, International Journal on Homelessness

Alexandra Flynn, Assistant Professor, Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia

Alison Kemper, Former Co-chair, Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons, City of Toronto

Andrew Boozary, MD, SM

Andrew Lochead, Activist / Artist (Rename Dundas Street); PhD Candidate, X University

Anna Willats, Coordinator / Professor, George Brown College

Bob Rose, Mental Health / Homeless Recovery Advocate

Bri Gardner, Housing Advocate

Cathy Crowe, Street Nurse

David Hulchanski, Professor, Housing and Community Development, University of Toronto

Dianne Saxe, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (2015 – 2019)

Dr. Adriana Di Stefano (MD, CFPC), Steering Committee Member, Health Providers Against Poverty

Drew SIlverthorn, (MSW, BSW, RSW), Community Mental Health Social Worker / Chair, Health Providers Against Poverty (2020)

Eric Paul Weissman, Assistant Professor, Social Science, University of New Brunswick; Activist / Filmmaker

Estair Van Wagner, Associate Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University

Griffin Epstein, Professor, Social Service Work, George Brown College

Jennifer Hollett, Community Leader

John Caffery, Activist / Artist (Hall of Justice); Professor, George Brown College

John Clarke, Packer Visitor in Social Justice, York University

John Sewell, Mayor of Toronto (1978 – 1980)

John Stapleton, Principal, Open Policy Ontario

John van Nostrand, Architect, Planner and Housing Developer

Lauren Bulckaert, Professor, Addiction and Mental Health Work, Centennial College

Lynne Brennan, Professor, Community Worker Program, George Brown College

Martine August, Assistant Professor, School of Planning, University of Waterloo

Melissa Goldstein, Housing Advocate

Naheed Dosani, MD

Nahum Mann, Community Organizer

Nathan Stall, MD, FRCPC

Olivia Chow, MP (2006 – 2014)

Rabbi Jordan Helfman, Holy Blossom Temple

Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo, MPP (2006 – 2017); Minister, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre for Faith, Justice, and the Arts

Rev. Dr. Jason McKinney, Church of the Epiphany and St. Mark

Rev. Dr. John Joseph Mastandrea, Manor Road United Church, Toronto

Roger Hollander, Toronto Councillor for Don River (1987 – 1994)

Rusa Jeremic, Professor, Community Worker Program, George Brown College

Sarah Rehou, MS, Housing Advocate

Shiri Pasternak, Assistant Professor, Criminology, X University

Terra Gillespie, Community Activist

Tommy Taylor, Frontline Shelter Worker / Community Safety and Well-being Consultant

William Payne, Contract Faculty, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University

Artists and Musicians

Aerin Fogel, Artistic Director, Venus Fest

Akash Banal, DJ (Tender Buttons)

Alex Baigent, Musician (Westlaken)

Amanda Crist, Musician (Ice Cream)

Andrew Wilson, Musician (Sahara)

Andy Shauf, Musician

Anna May Henry, Artist

Annie Koyama, Publisher, Koyama Press

April Aliermo, Musician (Phèdre)

Ardene Shapiro, Musician

Brendo Black, Musician / Cinematographer

Carlyn Bezic, Musician (Jane Inc.)

Carmen Yanuziello, Musician (Carmen Elle / gay hollywood)

Charlotte Cornfield, Musician

Chris de Castro, Designer (Hand Eye Society); Board Member (Wavelength)

Cindy Li, DJ / Producer (Ciel / Discwoman)

Clara Engel, Musician

Daniel Hanna, CEO, Eyesore Cinema Ltd.

Daniel Hartrell, Musician / Creative Director

Daniel Lee, Musician (Phèdre)

David Dacks, Executive Director, The Music Gallery

David Lush, Musician (Analytica / Memorex)

David Psutka, Musician (Halocline Trance)

Diana Lynn VanderMeulen, Visual Artist

Dr. Henry Warwick, Composer; Assistant Professor, RTA School of Media, X University

Edan Scime Stokell, Musician (Sahara)

Emma Kulcsar, Interior Designer

Gabe Knox, Musician (Gabe Knox / Analytica)

Harley Haskett, Musician / Graphic Designer

Hayden Desser, Musician (Hayden)

Hayley Elsaesser, Fashion Designer

Henri Fabergé, Performing Artist

Isla Craig, Musician

James Harris, Video Editor / Musician (Cosmic Resonance)

Janina Kiersnowski, Filmmaker / DJ

Jay Anderson, Musician (Badge Époque Ensemble)

Jay Cheel, Filmmaker

Jeffrey Dupuis, Novelist; Editor, The Quarantine Review

Jesse Crowe, Musician (Praises / Beliefs)

Jesse Laderoute, Musician (Blonde Elvis / Catholic Wilt)

Jesse Wick, Musician / Artist

Jessica Kaera Cho, Musician (Korea Town Acid)

Joel Lee, Designer

Jon Bartlett, Director, Kelp Management

Jon Schouten, Co-owner, Telephone Explosion Records

Jonathan Pappo, Musician (Scott Hardware / No Frills / Elrichman / Context / NA)

Jordan Seccareccia, Musician (Westlaken)

Joshua McGuirk, Artist / DJ / Musician; Producer, MTV / Much Music

Julia Dickens, DJ / Artist (The Loving Echo)

Julian Taylor, Musician (Julian Taylor Band)

Karen Ng, Musician; Co-founder, TONE Festival

Karla Hauser, Visual Artist / DJ

Kat Estacio, Artist / Musician (Pantayo)

Kate McIntosh, Event Organizer, On Earth

Katrina Estacio, Musician (Pantayo)

Kevin Drew, Musician (Broken Social Scene)

Kritty Uranowski, Musician (Lavender Bruisers)

Laura Elliott, DJ (Loxxe)

Lido Pimienta, Musician

Linus Booth, Musician

Lisa Conway, Artist/Musician (L CON)

Liz Hysen, Musician

Lucas Temor, Musician (Westlaken)

Ludovic Bacs, DJ (Immigrant Muscle)

Lukas Switlicki, Event Organizer, City Dance Initiative

Lyndsey Gallant, Art Director

Maev Beaty, Theatre Artist

Matt King, Musician (Absolutely Free)

Maximilian Turnbull, Musician (Badge Époque Ensemble)

Meg Remy, Musician (U.S. Girls)

Michael DeForge, Illustrator

Michael Edward Barry, DJ / Musician (The Robotic Kid / The Hidden Cameras)

Michael Rancic, Freelance Music Journalist

Mike Haliechuk, Musician (Fucked Up)

Mingjia Chen, Musician

Nathan Heuvingh, Curatorial and Programming Lead (Myseum of Toronto); Musician (Bad River)

Nathan Jurevicius, Illustrator

Nikki Little, Musician

Nimit Malavia, Illustrator

Nyssa Rosaleen, Musician (Nyssa)

Olivia Statler, Art Therapist, Plum Blossom Mindful Arts

Peter Kuplowsky, Producer / Film Curator (Midnight Madness)

Raf Reza, DJ / Producer

Riaz Charania, Marketing Manager (Myseum of Toronto)

Rob McLay, Musician (Westlaken)

Robin Dann, Musician (Bernice)

Rollie Pemberton, Musician (Cadence Weapon)

S.Marshall Dragert, Producer / Perfomer / Organizer (Menla)

Sachin Mohindra, Musician (Short Bloom)

Sanjeet Takhar, Artistic Director, Music Gallery

Sarah Tumaliuan, MPH (Dalla Lana School of Public Health); Arts, Culture, and Heritage Worker (Myseum of Toronto / Parks N' Wreck)

Serena Ryder, Musician

Shamanta Chandran, Musician (WeTurnToRed)

Shary Boyle, Artist; Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts, Ontario College of Art and Design University

Shaun Bowring, Owner (The Garrison / Baby G); Co-chair, Toronto Music Advisory Committee (TMAC)

Sheryl Lindsay, Community Worker / Musician

Sophia Ruby Katz, Writer / Artist / Musician (Ferrari Garden, Jasmine Rivers)

Stephen Lambke, Musician (Constantines); Arts Administrator

Tamara Lindeman, Musician (The Weather Station)

Tim Shannon, DJ / Music Programmer

Troy Jackson, Musician

Tyler Clark Burke, Artist

Vaughn Robert Squire, DJ / Musician (Sixtoo)

Victoria Cheong, Musician (New Chance)

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