NEW: Shelter and Housing Justice Network

Housing advocates form new coalition, demand city declare state of emergency over homelessness

THE STAR By EMILY MATHIEU Affordable Housing Reporter
Thu., Dec. 13, 2018

The whole system is imploding. What happens when you don’t take care of the social housing component is that everything filters down into the emergency shelter system,” said Rafi Aaron, a member of the newly created Shelter and Housing Justice Network, speaking with the Star.

Network members include Health Providers Against Poverty, the Interfaith Coalition to Fight Homelessness, the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, the Street Nurses Network, the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society and No One Is Illegal.

Demands of the SHJN:

• That the City of Toronto declare a state of emergency over the opioid crisis, which is also affecting those who are homeless.
• That the city open the Sprung Instant Structures (temporary shelters) to not only create more spaces but in particular to help women and members of the LGBT community.
• That the city open 1,000 more shelter beds in 2019 to ease overcrowding.
• That the city commit to opening 100,000 rent-geared-to-income housing units over the next five years.
• That all levels of government commit to investing one per cent more of their existing budgets in tackling housing and homelessness.