Toronto.com: Toronto groups call for an end to homelessness and precarious housing
Posted November 23, 2020
Shelter and Housing Justice Network holds a local Day of Action on National Housing Day
Posted November 23, 2020
Several Toronto groups and organizations will be holding events and rallies today to demand every resident’s right to housing is respected and realized.
Today, which is National Housing Day, the Shelter and Housing Justice Network (SHJN), an organization that fights in Toronto and beyond for shelter rights, housing rights, and human rights, is co-ordinating a local Day of Action in “solidarity with the many individuals, groups and organizations currently taking action to address our affordable housing and homelessness crisis.”
So far, actions have been organized by Jane Finch Housing Coalition, Toronto ACORN, Regent Park Community Health Centre, Housing Action Now!, Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations, The Toronto Alliance to End Homelessness, LAMP Community Health Centre and Lakeshore Affordable Housing Advocacy and Action Group, Street Health, Anglican Diocese of Toronto, Friends of Kensington Market and CFUW Leaside East York — The Power of Women Working Together.
“Toronto has seen an unprecedented amount of advocacy and direct support this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the way it has exposed and exacerbated the city’s pre-existing affordable housing and homelessness crises,” the SHJN said in a release.
The network said its Day of Action would showcase the housing and homelessness issues impacting this city as well as the “critically important” work that is being done by concerned members of the community to support people facing eviction, experiencing homelessness, and/or struggling with housing insecurity.
On Monday, Nov. 23, the Shelter and Housing Justice Network will hold an online news conference to highlight the actions that happened today and make demands to all three levels of government.
National Housing Day takes place every year on November 22.
Back on Nov. 22, 1998, the Big City Mayors Caucus of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities endorsed the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee’s declaration that homelessness was a national disaster.
The goal of this day is to demand an end to homelessness and housing precarity by calling for a national housing program.
Mayor John Tory has proclaimed today as National Housing Day in Toronto. In a statement, he said the City of Toronto is dedicated to achieving Torontonians’ right to housing and has laid out a path to meet this commitment.
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Article by Joanna Lavoie for Toronto.com