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blake 3:17
15th February 2016, 23:15
MARCH ON CITY HALL! OPEN NEW EMERGENCY SHELTERS NOW! Wednesday, February 17, 11AM, Queen & Sherbourne

TORONTO'S HOMELESS SHELTERS ARE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS

March on City Hall

Wednesday, February 17
Assemble: Queen and Sherbourne, 11.00 AM
Soup Provided

Anyone who tries to find a bed within the Toronto homeless shelter system is fully aware that it is in a crisis of overcrowding. During the week of January 18, OCAP members and allies visited the City warming centres and interfaith Out of the Cold shelters that function as a back up for the overloaded system. We spoke to people using these places and volunteers in them. What we found more than confirmed our worst fears.

People are being packed into spaces that, despite the best efforts of those running them, are unable to meet the need. The facilities are inadequate, the demand for them is too great, and people are being turned away.

OCAP will soon release a report on its findings. Drawing from first hand accounts and empirical evidence, the report aims to challenge the ongoing assault on the health and dignity of those who access the shelter system, and challenge the City to provide desperately needed measures to address the situation. Significantly, the report will provide readers with crucial details as to the grave reality of the shelter crisis in Toronto. Space must be opened and the City's policy of keeping shelter occupancy at a maximum of 90% enforced. The federal government armouries that have been opened in the past to the homeless must again be made available an emergency measure.

On February 17, we will deliver our report to the politicians at City Hall. Please come out and join us on that day.

http://www.ocap.ca/node/4000

The Intransigent Faction
15th February 2016, 23:30
MARCH ON CITY HALL! OPEN NEW EMERGENCY SHELTERS NOW! Wednesday, February 17, 11AM, Queen & Sherbourne

TORONTO'S HOMELESS SHELTERS ARE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS

March on City Hall

Wednesday, February 17
Assemble: Queen and Sherbourne, 11.00 AM
Soup Provided

Anyone who tries to find a bed within the Toronto homeless shelter system is fully aware that it is in a crisis of overcrowding. During the week of January 18, OCAP members and allies visited the City warming centres and interfaith Out of the Cold shelters that function as a back up for the overloaded system. We spoke to people using these places and volunteers in them. What we found more than confirmed our worst fears.

People are being packed into spaces that, despite the best efforts of those running them, are unable to meet the need. The facilities are inadequate, the demand for them is too great, and people are being turned away.

OCAP will soon release a report on its findings. Drawing from first hand accounts and empirical evidence, the report aims to challenge the ongoing assault on the health and dignity of those who access the shelter system, and challenge the City to provide desperately needed measures to address the situation. Significantly, the report will provide readers with crucial details as to the grave reality of the shelter crisis in Toronto. Space must be opened and the City's policy of keeping shelter occupancy at a maximum of 90% enforced. The federal government armouries that have been opened in the past to the homeless must again be made available an emergency measure.

On February 17, we will deliver our report to the politicians at City Hall. Please come out and join us on that day.

http://www.ocap.ca/node/4000

An acquaintance shared a Toronto Star article on this march on Facebook earlier.

If it had been tomorrow or Thursday, I'd have gone, but regrettably I can't be there on Wednesday.

Best of luck. I will do whatever I can to promote it and hopefully I know some people who can go in my place.

I have my doubts about whether reporting to politicians is worthwhile, but if nothing else it's a chance to gather and build solidarity promoting solutions to some of the worst consequences of capitalism.

The Garbage Disposal Unit
16th February 2016, 04:40
I'd love to see a link to the report, and hear about the March of anyone makes it out. Halifax has similar issues.

The Intransigent Faction
18th February 2016, 01:09
I'd like to know blake's perspective on how it went, but here's a pretty solid report. I love how they make the connection between underfunded homeless shelters and the massive police budget:

https://ricochet.media/en/958/protest-targets-torontos-abandonment-of-poor-and-homeless (https://ricochet.media/en/958/protest-targets-torontos-abandonment-of-poor-and-homeless)

blake 3:17
18th February 2016, 01:10
click through to link to pdf of the report one: http://www.ocap.ca/node/4003

I don't want to post a pdf link because that can be a hassle technically

I was busy working in a shelter so couldn't make it but it sounded it went well.

Even the National Post gave it favourable coverage: http://news.nationalpost.com/toronto/toronto-city-council-approves-status-quo-property-tax-increase-following-shelters-not-guns-protest-in-council-chambers

Edited to add: I had posted the report in Ongoing Struggles.

blake 3:17
18th February 2016, 01:27
The OCAP report is excellent. Been reported in the Star, Metro, Global 6 o'clock news. The whole system is broken.

The cops look like the goons they are and folks are fed up with murderous economic injustice.