It came from one of Cressy’s assistants, Anthony MacMahon, who indicated the city is ensuring encampments are “safe” for their inhabitants and neighbours until “adequate indoor space” is available. And I don’t want to get raped. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Made with love for great people. Outbreaks in at least eight shelters and respite sites. “Something has to be done,” he added. Different hotels, different charitable agencies in charge, different rules. “I got here yesterday,” says Diane, 29, having a smoke outside a Yonge Street hotel that has been turned over for the purpose, its homeless complement managed by Dixon Hall, the charitable neighbourhood service. “They’ve been unbelievable; the site wasn’t exactly what we needed, but they’ve been really helpful in getting us water, power.”. Besides, she notes, shelters have been plagued by COVID-19 outbreaks. Mr Whitmore said it was a reasonable request to make and council had been “unbelievable” in making the relocation as easy as possible. rights reserved. GLAMPING is camping with a touch of glamour – and it will be on offer to race goers at the 2017 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour for the first time. To make matters worse, he said, the Toronto Fire Service has had to respond to at least three fires in the park, including a massive one during the evening of Sept. 19 that came very close to the townhouses bordering the park and nearby trees. No sanitary products for the women. The next issue of The Toronto Sun Headline News will soon be in your inbox. AFTER being forced to relocate due to wet weather, it looks like Tent City will be able to cater to its guests as planned when they start to arrive on Wednesday. Republication or distribution of this content is And then somebody stole it.”, Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. After the massive fire of Sept. 20, he wrote Councillor Joe Cressy, who represents the area, asking him, “How many fires are too many?”, He also reminded Cressy that “countless bylaws are being broken” and the park is “literally being destroyed.”. “All the money invested to keep business afloat will be nothing if there’s no customers and no people visiting the neighbourhood.”. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. City officials say they have been doing their best to move vulnerable people off the streets, into upwards of 15 hotels. 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. I still have goals I think I can reach. Encampments that have are both an eyesore and visible evidence of social, political and economic shortcomings. And a shower whenever I want. Lets talk. Mr Whitmore said the ground is a lot drier than the former location for Tent City at Police Paddock and should hold up fine if there is more rain throughout the week. Encampments have sprung up across the city, where the destitute huddle, while others cluster beneath overpasses. Back at Moss Park, Anna, 36, is renewing acquaintances with friends she made while living in a tent for nearly three months, until she landed a hotel room recently. Pre-erected Tent fitted with wire based beds, mattress, carpet and 12 volt light. Knocking around among shelters for six months prior to that. In the middle of a public health crisis, it’s about very short-term coping and strategies. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. All the talk is about COVID, but there was so much sickness among the homeless already. “If only I could have, like, three months to build myself up again, make something of myself. Once upon a time, he says, he was a York University student — until his mother kicked him out of the house for drug use and then everything went sideways. Here is a list of the top 22 accommodation, caravan, and camping options in Bathurst. As of June 9, according to the City’s website, there were 563 positive COVID cases linked to shelters. That beats the street, for sure.”, Diane had been working as a clerk at a Shopper’s Drug Mart, even as she remained homeless, never able to get enough money together for first and last month rent. https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/QxukpFBZJiAgENVqiH8x9E/d320e6a7-3279-442a-bf13-5ea43e685f15.JPG/r536_610_2916_1955_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg, Bathurst farmers enjoying best spell of rain in four years, Drive-through testing clinic returns in time for the Bathurst 1000, Our say | Sydney's virus spike a timely reminder for us all, No going back: William Street U-turns to remain following trial, Defending champ prepared to take risks to get another Bathurst win, Open houses in and around Bathurst from Friday 16th to Saturday 17th of October | photos and map. Complete with an awning, carpet, 12v light, beds and roll up windows. Adam got the same standard response sent to a constituent who complained about an encampment at Strachan and Douro Aves. CLOSE Her accommodation is way out in Don Mills, run by the Fred Victor Mission. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution Asked whether there are any plans to evict the tent dwellers from any park, city spokesman Kris Scheuer said they “do not have space” to move people “en masse” from an encampment to indoor units. The City is paying $3 million to use those buildings, which covers the cost of security, cleaning and meals provided by a catering company. Tent City owner Shaun Whitmore said members of the Bathurst community reached out to lend a hand in taking down, transporting and then erecting more than … Until Wednesday, Diane and her boyfriend had been living — existing — in a tent city at Bathurst and Lake Shore. Newspapers Limited, One Yonge Street, 4th floor, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E6. Tent City owner Shaun Whitmore said members of the Bathurst community reached out to lend a hand in taking down, transporting and then erecting more than 300 tents at the new location, Alec Lamberton Field.  “We had a great return from the locals; we had about 30 people turn up for a couple of days work,” he said. Originally from Halifax, homeless on and off for the last year coming off an abusive relationship, employed at a scattershot of jobs when she can find work and now on disability. Tent City owner Shaun Whitmore said members of the Bathurst community reached out to lend a hand in taking down, transporting and then erecting more than 300 tents at the new location, Alec Lamberton Field. Breakfast daily – choice of hot and cold items. Adam said politicians maintain that all they need is more money from the province and the feds to solve the problem. “But I was always so tired, because of the way I was living. Residents and shop owners near the tent city in Alexandra Park say enough is enough. Amir Mohamud, 27, has been on the street for six years. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. Looking for somewhere to stay during the Bathurst 1000? “They’re putting a Band-Aid on something and it’s not really stopping the bleeding,” he said of city officials. Sysak said they’ve had cases of customers seeking safety in shops and restaurants to get away from people who have issues. While a harm-reduction program for drug addicts is offered at this particular hotel, it should be noted — others in the social assistance network have told the Star this — that this location has experienced problems with some of its residents. “I couldn’t believe it. This is disputed by the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty and coalition partners which have railed against the City for not doing more as the homeless community has been devastated by COVID-19; shelter-users are infected at a rate nine times that of the Toronto housed population, according to an open letter OCAP sent to Mayor John Tory and City council earlier this month. I almost felt guilty when I walked into my room. Since then, people have formed two tent cities. “From what I hear, they don’t even have water.” That’s not true, actually. “A bed, our own room, safety. More a health matter than a policing matter. Bathurst Regional Council approached Tent City on September 26 to relocate after above average rainfall throughout late September. They’re not a good look for the city, obviously. It’s a different kind of place, with families and kids staying there. If so, that’s no surprise. “It was horrible,” says Maxine. Until Wednesday, Diane and her boyfriend had been living — existing — in a tent city at Bathurst and Lake Shore. “Everything got soaked. City spokesperson Kris Scheuer told the Star via email: “Encampments are only cleared once (they are) abandoned or vacated by individuals choosing to access shelter, respite sites, hotels or housing.’’. “I don’t feel safe there. Read more about cookies here. 4 nights’ accommodation at Tent City, located along Brock’s Skyline on Mount Panorama, including: Check In: Thursday 30 th January, 2020 Check Out: Monday 3 rd January, 2020 Pre-erected Tent fitted with wire based beds, extra thick mattress, carpet and 12 volt light Linen Pack including sheets, pillow, pillow case, blanket, doona and doona cover per person (towels not included). Additionally, almost 560 had been transferred to community centres and other spaces. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. All Bathurst Regional Council approached Tent City on September 26 to relocate after above average rainfall throughout late September. “Nobody wants to go there,” says Mohammed, Maxine’s middle-aged friend. People forcing you to do what you don’t want to do.”. That was weeks ago. A welcome email is on its way. She said they continue to work with individuals on a “case-by-case basis” through the city’s streets-to-homes contingent to find “individual solutions” to access shelter or housing. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. “Way more than I expected,’” says Craig, 27, who came directly from a drug treatment facility a week ago. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Shared toilet and shower facilities. © 2020 Toronto Sun, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Trying to dry my clothes now, but a lot of this stuff has turned into garbage.’’, She’s been homeless for three years, largely avoiding shelters. It’s pretty quiet around here.”. LEVY: Residents and business owners fed up with Alexandra Park tent city. “How about having a little empathy instead?”, Maxine adds: “Nobody has offered me a hotel room.’’. Adam, whose house overlooks the south end of the park where about three dozen tents are clustered, said he’s had to deal with three months of noise all night from people partying and screaming profanities related to sex and drugs. The Toronto Sun also visited the Alexandra Park encampment two weeks ago and spoke with some of the tent-dwellers, who told us they’re prepared to hunker down for the winter. He said his 300 members are “already suffering horribly” due to COVID and luring customers back to their area is doubly difficult if “people feel unsafe.”. You can’t just shunt people who’ve been living hard on the streets to gentler circumstances and expect them to suddenly reinvent themselves. “It is in the best interests for council and for us to make sure people are safe and that people have an enjoyable time,” he said. “It is in the best interests for council and for us to make sure people are safe and that people have an enjoyable time,” he said. “There were about a hundred of us there and they took all of us away.”, She can hardly believe her good fortune. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Beds, mattress, carpet and 12 volt light want to do. ” safety in and... 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