Press Conference today @ Scadding Court Encampment. Full video of speakers soon. But a summary for no shows @JohnTory & @joe_cressy ..

Dom kicked it off talking about life in the encampment & his commitment to community there. Congregate settings are not safe during Covid. 1/10

[OK EVERYONE SAID A LOT AND SAID IT BRILLIANTLY SO 4 REAL THESE ARE CRUDE SUMMARIES.]

As far as we know, the city will be moving to evict residents from Scadding Court if they don't accept the glass pods in the Better Living Centre respite. Where will they go?
1.5/10

Dom doesn't feel safe moving into Better Living Centre glass pods that @cityoftoronto Streets 2 Homes housing workers have been offering people @ Scadding Court this week. It's a congregate setting during COVID! Photo of S2H below this morning offering spots @ the BLC.

2/10

Dread, another resident of Scadding Court, gave a lesson on how ineffective the government's response to the housing crisis is. Talked about the gap between the experts who consult on homelessness & the lived experience of people who are unhoused.
3/10

@cathyacrowe street nurse & advocate spoke to the history of tent city in Toronto as well as the Shelter Support Housing Administration's reliance on congregate settings. Shelter conditions are inhumane. People can fight for and win permanent housing.
4/10

Sue, encampment resident at Trinity Bellwoods, talked about renovictions and how hard it is for her and her daughter to find and keep housing.
5/10

@lorrainelamchop outreach wrker @SanctuaryTO spoke 2 how ppl offered shelter options that don't work for them. The encampment next 2 Sanctuary was cleared & then fenced off for "landscaping." She wants to be helping ppl move into dignified housing they want.
6/10

Chilli, a shelter hotel resident spoke to the reality of the conditions there. Food is the same as in jail as is the surveillance & the disrespect.

It's so important for neighbors to show recognition of ppl on the street and in encampments. 7/10

Charlene Lee, a housed community member of the Scadding Court neighborhood spoke to how deficient the government's response to homelessness has been. Expressed support for encampment residents. 8/10

@ZoeDodd spoke to the grief of the OD crisis & took a moment of silence for those we've lost due to the neglect of every level of gov't. @joe_cressy should consult with his constituents. CUPE Workers should be in solidarity w/ ppl they say they are helping. No evictions 9/10

Signs from the community are pictured below.

The press conference was followed by a community build of the Chrysalis aka You Tubes (named by Dread). These are meant to give people more protection from the cold. An extra layer from the wind and insulation from the cold. 10/10