Feb15 Toronto - No More Homeless Deaths

[blake 3:17]

Word up!

No More Homeless Deaths: Take action to set up emergency shelters

Meal and Planning Meeting
Friday, February 15th
11am
Church of the Holy Trinity
10 Trinity Sq (near Queen/Bay)

There have been 2 homeless deaths in the past few weeks in Toronto making 36 deaths in one year alone. The city and the Province have cut funding to shelters, housing and homeless prevention services even though the reality is that shelters are full and cuts are costing lives.

We have taken this issue again and again to the City of Toronto's Shelter Support and Housing Administration including demands signed by over 1000 people - and yet they refuse to take action. We can not sit by while more people die. Let's talk about taking and setting up an emergency shelter. If they won't open shelter beds - we will. Direct action is required. Please come out on Friday, February 15th to talk together about how we can do this.

Get involved: Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
www.ocap.ca
416-925-6939
@OCAPtoronto

[blake 3:17]

Also please sign the Avaaz petition here:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/No_More_Homeless_Deaths_Demand_the_City_of_Toronto _work_to_end_the_homeless_crisis/

[blake 3:17]

OCAP protesters escorted out of City Hall peacefully

Read more: http://www.cp24.com/news/ocap-protesters-escorted-out-of-city-hall-peacefully-1.1158697#ixzz2L2WA4xJr

andie Benitah and Chris Kitching, cp24.com
Published Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 4:47PM EST
Last Updated Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013 12:03AM EST


Nearly 40 activists were escorted out of city hall one by one after spending the day outside Mayor Rob Ford’s office protesting the lack of shelter beds available to the homeless.
Toronto police arrived at city hall at around 10 p.m. and began escorting people out of the building at 10:30 p.m., one hour after the doors to the building closed to the general public.
At least one person was led out in handcuffs and another had to be dragged out but most of the protesters were led out peacefully and without handcuffs.
PHOTOS

Toronto police speak to a protester before leading them out of City Hall where about 50 people staged a day-long demonstration to call attention to the lack of homeless beds in the city.

A group of protesters with the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty have set up a makeshift shelter outside Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's office on Feb. 15, 2013. (Sean Davidson/CP24.com)
Staff Insp. Howie Page told CP24 that all activists who were led out of the building were given a ticket and then released from custody.
“No one was detained, everyone reacted respectfully,” he said.
The protesters, many who had been there since 12:30 p.m., refused to vacate the building after being asked formally to leave by security staff and police.
A sergeant at 52 Division told the crowd if they didn’t leave, protesters would be charged under the Trespassing Property Act.
About a dozen people left, according to Toronto police, but many protesters remained, chanting angrily in response, ““We’re hungry, we’re angry we won’t go away,” “No more deaths,” and “Stop the war on the poor, make the rich pay!”
At one point, one man in the crowd yelled, “The homeless are dying, we have nowhere to go.”
Police told John Clarke, leader of the Ontaro Coalition Against Poverty, in front of the crowd that people will be “treated with dignity” but they are being given five minutes to leave before officers will start making arrests.


Read more: http://www.cp24.com/news/ocap-protesters-escorted-out-of-city-hall-peacefully-1.1158697#ixzz2L2W2HKc8