The current pandemic has exacerbated the crisis of homelessness. People who are unhoused are already at higher risk due to underlying health conditions, while living on the streets or in a crowded shelter makes it difficult to comply with physical distancing and hygiene guidelines. In addition, new provincial legislation (Bill 184) gives landlords more power to evict tenants for falling behind on their rent, putting even more people at risk of homelessness just as cold weather is approaching.
In preparation for National Housing Day on November 22, the Diocesan Social Justice & Advocacy Committee prepared a toolkit for parishes to use to call on the provincial and municipal governments for immediate measures to prevent evictions and support people experiencing homelessness. You can find background information on this issue and more suggestions of ways to get involved on the Social Justice and Advocacy web page.
If you wish to write a letter to your mayor and city councilor asking that the city make more housing options available to avoid overcrowding in shelters
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- As a couple, family, or other group, use this template: Housing-Matters-municipal-template-letter group
- As an individual, use this template: Housing-Matters-municipal-template-letter individual
You can use this template whether you live in Toronto or a nearby city or town. Simply update the information highlighted in yellow with the correct information, then either copy the text and email your mayor and councilor, or print and mail the letter (but please remember mail may face delays and many staff members are working from home). If you live in Toronto, your mayor is John Tory, and you can email him at mayor_tory@toronto.ca. You can find his official mailing address and phone and fax numbers here. You can find your Toronto city councillor by clicking here.
If you wish to write a letter to the provincial government of Ontario asking that more funding be given to cities to provide shelter and that there is a moratorium on evictions this winter while many are out of work or underemployed due to the pandemic
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- As a couple, family, or other group, use this template: housing-letter-to-province-november-2020 group
- As an individual, use this template: housing-letter-to-province-november-2020 Individual
You can use this template whether you live in Toronto or a nearby city or town. Simply update the information highlighted in yellow with the correct information, then either copy the text and email or print the letter and mail the letter to Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford and Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Steve Clark (but please remember mail may face delays and many staff members are working from home). You can find Premier Ford’s contact information here and Minister Clark’s contact information here.
