Thread by @djjohnso

The @CityofToronto is flatly lying, as it has for at least a decade, about shelter space being available for people who are homeless. Today, a naive and unjust judge not only let Toronto get away with those lies, but crapped all over some of Toronto's most vulnerable citizens. 1/

So, here's a little story that shows what those who are homeless and those who advocate for them go through trying to get Shelter beds.

"I had extended the stay at the rooming house near Spadina and Dundas for the woman who had reported a sexual assault on June 19, 2/

as I was concerned that there was no available bed for her in the shelter system. In the afternoon of June 25, I visited that woman at the rooming house near Spadina/Dundas. While I was there, I noticed a young homeless man (Z.R.) hanging around the outside of the building." 3/

"This was the second time I had encountered him, and this time he asked me for help. Z.R. told me that he had last bee in the shelter system two months prior." 4/

"He said that he had left the shelter system to use some of his monthly cheque to stay at the rooming house for a few days, but was now out of money. He asked if I would call Central Intake to get him a bed." 5/

"On June 25 at 2:23 p.m., while with Z.R., I called Central Intake and was told there was no availability for single men. The operator asked that we call back in an hour. Z.R. gave the operator permission to not on his file that I was able to ask for a bed for him." 6/

"I called back to Central Intake at 3:23, 4:23, 5:24, 7:44, and 8:25 p.m., and was told each time that there was not a bed for Z.R. When I called again at 9:23 p.m., I could not remember Z. R.'s first name, and a new operator told me that I could only ask for a bed if ... 7/

" ... I knew his first and last names. I obtained Z.R.'s first name by texting the rooming house manager, and called Central Intake back at 9:36 p.m. I was put on hold for 14 minutes ant then told that no space was available and to call back in an hour." 8/

"I called again at 10:41 p.m., and was told again that there was no space available for Z.R. At 11:35 p.m., I made another call and was placed on hold before the call dropped after 4 minutes. I called back and waited on hold for 21 minutes before being told ... " 9/

"... that nothing was available and that I should try again in 2 hours. I set my alarm and slept for two hours before calling again at 2:15 a.m. Again, I was told that nothing was available." 10/

"I recording this portion of the conversation.

During my call at 2:15 a.m., the operator asked me to call back again in an hour. I responded with the suggestion that maybe I should wait for SMIS to reset at 4 a.m." 11/

"The operator agreed that his was a good idea. I set my alarm and called back at 4:56 a.m. This time, I was told there was a spot for Z.R. at 5800 Yonge. The operator told me that the spot would be held for only 2 hours, meaning I would have to find Z.R. and ... " 12/

"... get him to 5800 Yonge within that time. I asked the operator to hold the space for an additional hour, explaining I would have to find Z.R. at the abandoned building I had left him at the previous afternoon and then get him to 5800 Yonge." 13/

"The operator said 2.5 hours was the maximum they could hold the space. I recorded this portion of the conversation.

After hanging up with Central Intake at 5:03 a.m., I got dressed and drove to the area where I had last seen Z.R. 14/

"I attempted unsuccessfully for over an hour to find Z.R. In the two locations I knew him to hang out in and in the intervening sidewalk space.

On Friday June 26, while I was attempting to visit the woman in the boarding house at Spadina and Dundas, I again encountered Z.R. 15/

... who asked that I try calling Central Intake on his behalf again. I called again at 12:55 p.m., and was advised that 545 Lakeshore had a spot. Z.R. accepted it." 16/

"I drove him to the location with a backpack full of toiletries and clothes that I had collected for him from Sanctuary early that morning.

All told, it took 15 calls over the course of 22+ hours to secure a spot for Z.R." 17/Fin