As anyone who has been in Toronto recently knows, it has been hit with a harder than usual winter. Its been a case of heavy snowfalls, bitterly cold weather or freezing rain; mild days have been rare. In the last week of December, the City opened a shelter at the appropriately named Better Living Centre but reported it was half full. On the night of Dec. 27, only 55 of its 110 cots were occupied, whereas other shelters had a 95% occupancy rate.
Cathy Crowe, a street nurse, and advocate for homeless people blamed the empty cots on the lack of awareness of the new shelter. She added, ''The city does a lousy job with communication and the city staff and local media should do outreach work with images showing nice cots, blankets and hot food being served, like you would in a natural disaster.''
The city did not comment.
More than 5,000 people are staying in shelters in Toronto. 80 homeless people died in Toronto in 2017.
Councillor Joe Mihevc said, ''Respite centres are really a bandage on a bandage.''
Of course, he is perfectly right, especially when a major operation is necessary, one that requires abolishing a system where people are forced to live on the street.
For socialism,
Steve, Mehmet, John & contributing members of the SPC.
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