A network of advocates across the city working tirelessly to save the lives of people experiencing homelessness, are releasing this open letter from over 130 prominent academics have signed on to the call for Mayor Tory and City Council to declare a State of Emergency. See their open letter and the list of signatories. You can join them, by adding your name to the petition here: progresstoronto.ca/take-action-to-declare-homelessness-a-crisis

 
 

27 Jan 2019

Preamble: This is an open letter from scholars & researchers in support of The Shelter and Housing Justice Network campaign. We are trying to build momentum for Toronto City Council to declare homelessness and the housing crisis a state of emergency this coming week. This letter and the messages it contains is part of a broader initiative linking artists, writers, scholars, politicians and many other concerned citizens. The consignees to this letter are all experts in housing, homelessness, community health and urban social issues. We share the same moral imperative contained in other letters that express the necessity to deal with this crisis immediately and humanely.

As scholars, researchers, and persons with lived experience, we support this campaign to ask the Mayor’s office and the City of Toronto to declare a state of emergency in regards to homelessness in Toronto. Collectively, our work is not simply academic. Some of us have survived poverty and homelessness, and many of us have been “boots on the ground” for decades; critical witnesses to the profound inaction of city, provincial and national governments, to an historically pervasive issue. While we do not want to see people living in tents under the Gardiner or having to sleep in emergency shelters, we find it unimaginable that, at a time when the need for these spaces is the greatest it has been in 20 years in Toronto, the City is evicting people from lifesaving squats and building emergency shelters at a glacial pace.

We are calling on the City of Toronto to implement emergency measures in keeping with its obligations under international human rights law, and to set an example in the context of the anticipated recognition of the right to housing in the forthcoming National Housing Strategy legislation.

We also decry the gross human rights violation represented by the forced evictions of people living under the Gardiner and other informal settlements across the City. People living rough do so because conditions in shelters are dangerous and / or inaccessible for them. International law dictates that a community with no other options should not be forcibly displaced without community consultation and a plan in place for an adequate alternative. We call on the City to immediately enter into negotiations with the individuals and communities directly affected and their allies and advocates, in order to identify an acceptable, safe, and accessible alternative enabling communities to remain intact and self-determining.

Let us get one thing straight: homelessness in Toronto has nothing to do with character deficits and poor choices. We note that this homelessness catastrophe cannot be separated from Toronto’s housing crisis, a result of the withdrawal of all levels of government from social housing provision, and decades of unrestrained market-driven development in Toronto. This crisis is now rapidly escalating with the emergent trend of investor acquisition of units at the low end of the private market, including aging purpose-built rental towers, rooming houses, and residential hotels. These units are then systematically emptied of their current low-income tenants, upscaled, and rented at much higher rents to higher-income tenants. We point to the recent acquisition of buildings on West Lodge by Timbercreek, the upscaling of Parkdale rooming house units into expensive “micro-suites,” and the plan to redevelop the Waverly Hotel into a private student residence, as current local examples of this global trend.

We also are concerned that emergency responses carried out by the state often re-victimize individuals and groups who face over-policing and social stigma on the basis of race, Indigeneity, gender, disability, and other factors. It is vital to ensure that an Emergency response by the City and Province uphold human rights. Emergency resources to address the crisis must be allocated and monitored with the active participation of individuals and communities directly affected.

An Emergency response is critical in order to fulfill the most fundamental rights to life, security, and dignity of people facing homelessness, and to fulfill the City’s most immediate obligations under international human rights law and humanitarian protocols. However, this must be accompanied by an urgent and fully-resourced plan to coordinate municipal, provincial, and federal resources to address the housing crisis that is causing this homelessness catastrophe.

  • Such measures must include strategies to mitigate the harmful impact of unrestrained market-driven development and the financialization of housing in Toronto. Such a plan must include:

  • Significant, dedicated funding for the urgent development of non-profit and supportive housing to meet the need;

  • Regulations to require provision of deeply-affordable housing in every private residential development, using an income-based definition of affordability;

  • Laws and penalties to prevent the eviction of low-income tenants from existing rental housing and the upscaling of low-end-of-market housing options;

  • Effective enforcement of tenants’ rights to security of tenure and adequate, safe housing conditions;

  • Protection of existing affordable rental stock;

  • Expansion of the City’s Housing Allowance program and other portable housing benefits to bridge the gap between income and rent for tenants in the private market - with measures to mitigate against rent inflation and to ensure landlords in receipt of these public monies maintain acceptable housing conditions.

A final appeal we would make is to everyday Torontonians: those housed, those who speculate, those who profit from the fabulous cultural diversity and strong urban economy. Torontonians need to accept that their well-being is in some ways contingent on the precariousness faced by other Torontonians. It is sometimes hard for people to recognize that the part-time, lower paid and informal labour markets that support much of the City’s economic machine live in dire housing precariousness. Furthermore, we must acknowledge that all Torontonians have a basic right to housing, and that the City must guarantee this housing.

As scholars and researchers, we are uniquely equipped to tell you that the composition of people experiencing homelessness and housing precariousness in Toronto is complex and far more diverse than fits into conventional understandings, or the scripts read by most politicians. We can also tell you that this housing crisis is real, and taking action now can only make the future better for all of us. As a City, we need to recognize that this is an emergency, and it requires immediate action.

Signed,

Teresa Abbruzzese
York University, Department of Social Science

Sadie Aftab
York University, School of Social Work, MSW Candidate

Farihah Ali
York University, Health Policy & Equity, PhD Student

Tariq Amin-Khan
Department of Politics and Public Admin. Ryerson University

Amanda Austin
OCAD University, Master of Inclusive Design Candidate

Joanne Azevedo
York University, School of Social Work, PhD Candidate

Donna Baines
University of Sydney, Professor and Chair of Social Work

Katherine Bear
York University, School of Social Work , MSW Candidate

Stephanie Begun
University of Toronto, Assistant Professor, Social Work

Heather Bergen
York University, School of Social Work, PhD Student and frontline worker

Rupaleem Bhuyan
University of Toronto, Associate Professor, Social Work

Malcolm Blincow
York University (Emeritus, Anthropology)

David Brennan
Associate Professor, Social Work, University of Toronto

Stephen Brooke
Department of History, York University, Toronto

Toba Bryant
UOIT, Faculty of Health Sciences, Associate Professor

Valerie Buckley
Geography, York University

Susannah Bunce
Human Geography, University of Toronto Scarborough

Erinn Burke
York University, School of Social Work, MSW Candidate

Grant Calder
York University, Faculty of Environmental Studies (Planning Program), MES Candidate

Burgundy Campbell
York University, School of Social Work, MSW Candidate

Jenny Carson
Ryerson University, History, Associate Professor

Leigh Chapman
Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto

Julia Christensen
Memorial University, Geography, CRC in Northern Governance and Public Policy

Candice Christmas
PhD(C) Health Policy & Equity, York University

Benita Cohen
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, and Chair-Elect of the Canadian Public Health Association

Isaac Coplan
Ryerson University, Homelessness in Canadian Society Instructor

Deborah Cowen
Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto

Cathy Crowe
Distinguished Visiting Practitioner, Ryerson University

Tania Das Gupta
York University, Professor, Department of Equity Studies

Nancy Viva Davis Halifax
York University, CDS/SHPM, Associate Professor

Gene Desfor
York University, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Professor Emeritus

Sarah Epp
York University, MSW Candidate, York Region Food Network

Matthew Farish
Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto

Alexandra Flynn
Allard School of Law, UBC

Marilou Gagnon
Nursing, University of Victoria

Julia Gak
York University, School of Social Work, MSW Candidate

Michail Galanakis
Aalto University, Finland

Brandon Gibson-DeGroote
Ryerson university

Alex Gill
Ryerson University, Director, Social Ventures Zone

Amanda Glasbeek
Dept of Social Science, York University

Kanishka Goonewardena
Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto

Sean Grisdale
University of Toronto

Penny Gurstein
UBC, SCARP, Professor

Ratiba Hadj-Mousa
Department of Sociology, York University

Bria Hamilton
Affordable Housing Committee, York University, Co-Chair and Undergraduate student

Sarah Jean Harrison
Ryerson University, Homelessness in Canadian Society Instructor

Brandon Hillier
Researcher, York University

David Hulchanski
University of Toronto, Professor, Social Work

Pablo Idahosa
York University

Nancy Jackson
University of Toronto, OISE, Professor Emeritus

Anne Jackson
York University PhD Student

Kevin Jackson
York University, School of Health Policy and Management (CDS), PhD Student

Esra Alkim Karaagac
University of Waterloo, Geography and Environmental Management, Ph.D. Candidate

Mehedi Khan
York University

Azam Khatam
York University

Stefan Kipfer
York University

Anna Kramer
Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto

Abidin Kusno
Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University

Jennifer Langill
University of Toronto

Heather Lash
George Brown College, Faculty

Karen Lawford
Assistant Professor, Department of Gender Studies, Queen's Unviersity

Ute Lehrer
York University, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Professor

Steven Logan
University of Toronto Mississauga

Jc Elijah Madayag-Bawuah
York University, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Graduate Student

Loren March
Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto, PhD Student

Bryan Mark
Department of Geography, York University

Merouan Mekouar
York University, Social Science, Associate Professor

Zsofia Mendly-Zambo
York University, Health Policy & Equity, PhD Student

Kathleen Morris
OCAD University, Lecturer

Janet Mosher
York University, Osgoode Hall Law School, Associate Professor

Chris Munro
Ryerson University, Homelessness in Canadian Society Instructor

Pascal Murphy
Ryerson University, Homelessness in Canadian Society Instructor

Karen Murray
Department of Politics, York University

Judith Nagata
York University

Peggy Nash
Ryerson University Faculties of Arts and Community Services

Zoe Newman
York University, Department of Sociology, contract faculty

Anne O'Connell
York University, School of Social Work

Aaron Orkin
University of Toronto, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Assistant Professor

Laurence Packer
York University

Emily Paradis
University of Toronto, Urban Studies Program, instructor

Elise Paradis
University of Toronto, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Devika Parsaud
York University

Linda Peake
The City Institute, York University

Katherine Perrott
York University, Research Assistant

Nadia Qureshi
George Brown College, Contract Faculty

Dennis Raphael
York University, School of Health policy and Management, Professor

Sean Rehaag
York University, Osgoode Hall Law School, Associate Professor

Markus Reisenleitner
York University, Humanities, Professor

Kikélola Roach
Unifor Chair in Social Justice & Democracy, Ryerson University

Rae Rosenberg
York University, Department of Geography, PhD Candidate

Karen Ruddy
Ryerson University/York University

Izumi Sakamoto
University of Toronto, Social Work, Associate Professor

Catriona Sandilands
York University, Professor, Faculty of Environmental Studies

Veronica Schild
Western University (Emeritus, Political Science)

Karl Schmid
Department of Anthropology, York University

Kaitlin Schwan
York University, Department of Education, Postdoctoral Fellow

Craig Scott
York University, Osgoode Hall Law School, Professor of Law

Shirin Shahrokni
Department of Sociology York University Glendon

Myer Siemiatycki
Ryerson University, Professor of Politics

Anne-Marie Singh
Ryerson University, Criminology, Associate Professor

Luisa Sotomayor
York University, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Assistant Professor

Sheila Stewart
New College Writing Centre/WGSI, Univerity of Toronto

Sam Tecle
York University

Murat Ucoglu
York University, FES, PhD Candidate

Cheryl van Daalen-Smith
York University, School of Nursing, Associate Professor

Emily van der Meulen
Department of Criminology, Ryerson Univeristy, Associate Professor

Sarah Wakefield
Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto

Alan Walks
University of Toronto

Elizabeth Watters
York University, School of Social Work, Lecturer

Eric Weissman
University of New Brunswick, Saint John, Social Sciences

A.J. Withers
York University, School of Social Work, PhD Candidate

Julia Woodhall-Melnik
University of New Brunswick, Social Sciences, Assistant Professor

Hameed Yasir
York University, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Graduate Student

David Zakus
University of Toronto, Professor (Adjunct), Public Health and Editor, Planetary Health Weekly

Donia Zhang
City Institute, York University

Laam Hae
Department of Politics, York University

Hikda Smith
York University, Critical Disability Studies, PhD Candidate

Ronald Vogel
Ryerson University, Professor of Politics

Alison Thompson
University of Toronto, Associate Professor, Pharmacy and Public Health

Tracy Mack
York University, Teaching Assistant, Health

Lindsay Stephens
University of Toronto, Scarborough, Lecturer

Neera Singh
Geography and Planning, University of Toronto

Satoshi Ikeda
Concordia University

Eunjung Lee
University of Toronto

Beyhan Farhadi
University of Toronto, PhD Candidate

Ellie Perkins
York University, Faculty of Environmental Studies

Aasiyah Khan
York University, Faculty of Social Work

Jeremy Withers
University of Toronto, PhD Student

Soma Chatterjee
YORK UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

Anne-Marie Egger
Nurse Practitioner

Sabin Mukkath
Researcher,

Ian Skelton
Department of City Planning, University of Manitoba (retired)

Ellie Ade Kur
Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto, PhD Student

Jennifer Anacleto
University of Toronto, Faculty of Social Work, MSW Candidate

Anna Ek
Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto, MA Student

Angelica Meliton
University of Toronto, MSW Candidate

Sarah Simpson
York University, School of Social Work, MSW Candidate

Lin Fang
University of Toronto

Natalie Rothman
History, University of Toronto, Associate Professor

Adeye Adane
York University

Mohsen Mahjoobnia
OCAD University, Lecturer

Sedef Arat-Koc
Department of Politics, Ryerson University, Associate Professor

Carmelle Wolfson
University of Toronto, Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, MSW Candidate

See the PDF of the letter here.

 
 
 
 

Photo Credit: Evan Mitsui/CBC Licensing