In Toronto's ravines, parks and under bridges there lives hundreds of people who are unable to get into the homeless shelters. For Canada's most populous city, where the cost of living continues to rise, the authorities don't keep track of the number of such ''homes'', but do record the number they've removed. In 2017, 313 encampments were removed, in 2016 it was 204, in 2015, 142, and 110 in 2014.
The city cited a by-law preventing people from camping in parks overnight. Some ''residents'' prefer the ravines to the shelters because they are within walking distance to the downtown area, so they can panhandle, go to a nearby church where they can get hot meals and are close to mental health services. There is a feeling of community among them in the way they look out for each other.
According to Greg Cook, of the Sanctuary Ministries Toronto, a charity that seeks to help those in desperate situations, ''They don't even know each other's names and don't really hang out, but they keep an eye on each others stuff.'' The rest of us should also have such fraternal feelings and combine to eliminate the conditions that make the above possible.
The city cited a by-law preventing people from camping in parks overnight. Some ''residents'' prefer the ravines to the shelters because they are within walking distance to the downtown area, so they can panhandle, go to a nearby church where they can get hot meals and are close to mental health services. There is a feeling of community among them in the way they look out for each other.
According to Greg Cook, of the Sanctuary Ministries Toronto, a charity that seeks to help those in desperate situations, ''They don't even know each other's names and don't really hang out, but they keep an eye on each others stuff.'' The rest of us should also have such fraternal feelings and combine to eliminate the conditions that make the above possible.
Steve, Mehmet, John & all contributing members of the SPC.
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