🧵The narrative that encampment clearings are part of a compassionate approach to housing obstinate people is a fairy tale
Housing workers who do not work for the City will telly there is nowhere for people to go: shelters & shelter-hotels are full (and dangerous) 1/
Housing workers who do not work for the City will telly there is nowhere for people to go: shelters & shelter-hotels are full (and dangerous) 1/
https://twitter.com/beyrima/status/1418738308507705344
That is why many of the supporters of encampment residents are the same people who work to keep unhoused ppl safe & to find them housing. There are also doctors, healthcare workers, professors, lawyers…
They are not the random “protesters” that the mayor would like to blame 2/
They are not the random “protesters” that the mayor would like to blame 2/
They are ppl who understand how systemic racism & anti-Indigeneity work:
90% of urban Indigenous ppl live in poverty
38% of encampment residents identify as Indigenous
Pandemic evictions have forced mostly racialized ppl out of their housing
Shelters are bursting&dangerous 3/
90% of urban Indigenous ppl live in poverty
38% of encampment residents identify as Indigenous
Pandemic evictions have forced mostly racialized ppl out of their housing
Shelters are bursting&dangerous 3/
We were in a homelessness emergency before the pandemic
The Ford govt slashed funding for housing, refused to pause eviction hearings, won’t give ppl rent relief
WHY IS ANYONE SURPRISED THAT PEOPLE ARE SLEEPING IN PARKS?… 4/
The Ford govt slashed funding for housing, refused to pause eviction hearings, won’t give ppl rent relief
WHY IS ANYONE SURPRISED THAT PEOPLE ARE SLEEPING IN PARKS?… 4/
Even the FRPO — the landlords’ advocacy association — supported pandemic rent relief because everybody with eyes could see this coming…
There is only one solution: a strong supply of rent-geared-to-income housing (not more financialized condos) AND… 5/
There is only one solution: a strong supply of rent-geared-to-income housing (not more financialized condos) AND… 5/
The supports that @TODropinNetwork Path Forward has laid out
You can find it here: tdin.ca/announcement.p… …6/
You can find it here: tdin.ca/announcement.p… …6/
Clearing people out of encampments is ALWAYS violent (the threat of actual violence is why some residents leave quietly, but that doesn’t make it less violent
Residents who leave or are forced out do not end up in housing. Many just move parks… 7/
Residents who leave or are forced out do not end up in housing. Many just move parks… 7/
Homelessness will not be solved with violence, ever
We need to understand that people who are unhoused were forced into that position by circumstances beyond their control — often violence of one kind or another
Further traumatizing them is cruel & unproductive 8/
We need to understand that people who are unhoused were forced into that position by circumstances beyond their control — often violence of one kind or another
Further traumatizing them is cruel & unproductive 8/
Ultimately, homelessness is EVERYONE’s problem. If you are housed & afraid of or worried about encampments, please help solve the problem by urging the Ford govt to fund housing solutions & the mayor to follow the Path Forward’s suggestions… 9/
But we MUST begin by understanding what the problem actually is and not clinging to a nonsensical narrative that disappearing people from parks will make them go away. It won’t.
There is a better way and it is the only thing that will actually work… Fin
There is a better way and it is the only thing that will actually work… Fin
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