The @cityoftoronto slashes tents & clears encampments as if people’s lives are disposable. They toss their belongings & offer “options” that are not suitable for what people need. Shelters are full, & people are trying to figure out how to survive. Many don’t. Jesse didn’t. [1/8]

In July, City Parks (Troy Ford) showed up to take down tents at Sanctuary. Jesse was sleeping in one of them. He slashed the tent while he was still sleeping in it. He threatened to call the police & didn’t even give him time to look for his IDs or grab his stuff. [2/8]

Jesse was one of four people who died yesterday. He was a good friend; i got to know him well in the last bit: when he had access to a phone, he called almost daily to figure out housing & talk about his dreams & big plans for his life. He wanted to work with people. [3/8]

He cared for people and was generous. Last week, he gave his sweater to one of the girls outside, even though it left him with a tshirt in 0-degree weather. He had a great sense of humour, a playful demeanour and took life on the chin. [4/8]

Jesse had been living at the Sanctuary encampment for months, waiting for housing - or at the least, a temporary option that he knew could work for him. He refused the faraway hotel spaces that were offered, knowing that he needed to be close to his supports downtown. [5/8]

There is no housing; no options, & Jesse has been surviving on the streets. Last week he got news that he was accepted to move into for one of the new modular housing units later this year! Now he’ll never see it. [6/8]

Clearing encampments kills people. Homelessness kills people. Lack of affordable housing kills people. The City’s inadequate winter plan is going to keep killing loved ones. We really need something better. Step it up, @johntory @cityoftoronto [7/8]

Jesse talked to CBC right after the incident in the tent because he wants things to be different. The city’s failure to act and find real solutions for homelessness, and the opioid crisis - killed Jesse. Blood is on their hands.
http://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/17183 … [8/8]