A women and trans-folk only housing squat in Toronto attracted about 300 participants on Sunday, and a large number of police. Despite a strong anti-violence message, protesters were forcibly evicted from the squatted house at 4 Howard Street (Bloor and Sherbourne Sts.) after occupying the site for several hours.

Police moved on horseback to drive out the crowd. The spirit, however, remained strong. “We’re committed to continuing to organize similar events — direct action — to keep creating housing for women, for the next few months at least, if not longer,” organizer Anna Willats says.

She states that many people are upset about the police response. The group is writing a letter to the police and mayor to ask for a meeting to discuss the action.

The squat, organized by the Women Against Poverty Collective (WAPC) began with a lunch next to the 519 Church Street Community Centre, a place for the queer community in the city. Four women who seized the squat locale and spent the night there awaiting the marchers, unfurled a large banner reading “Housing 4 women, by women, now.”

WPACâe(TM)s goal for the event was to draw attention to the barriers that keep women in unsafe living conditions including the lack of available housing, low incomes and social assistance rates, and lack of access to child care.

Speakers included Josephine Grey, poverty activist and violence survivor; Magaly San-Martin, community activist from Parkdale; and Wendy Babcock of Sex Professionals of Canada. Grey told the crowd, “It makes me really angry that [there] are thousands of women in this province, in this country, in this city, who go homeless, lose their children, and lose their lives because they have no choices, because the system is broken. Because no one cares enough to put some bricks and mortar together — thatâe(TM)s not right. I didnâe(TM)t vote for that.”

She added, “ Itâe(TM)s been 15 years since the cuts started; itâe(TM)s been 15 years since theyâe(TM)ve built houses. I know that when I was homeless because of violence, we were able to make it; it was a struggle but we were able to make it. The only reason I kept my family together was because I had housing.”

Jacqueline de Schutter, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty member, says, “Itâe(TM)s important to have housing squats just for women to show that housing and homelessness is a feminist issue. Homeless females are often heads of families and fleeing abuse. Homelessness is not just about the stereotypical image of an elderly single male.”

While inside the squat women sat watching the crowd below, outside protesters set up tents in a nearby park and encircled the building to keep a watchful eye on the growing police presence. As one officer handed the others ice cream bars to keep cool, protesters watched the cops; and cops watched the protesters. As rain hit around 7:30 p.m., police moved in to evict. Five women were arrested by police, including the four squatters. All were later released.

Organizers are asking anyone with video or photo footage of the police action to contact them. They are also asking anyone who was injured by a police officer or horse, or from being pushed in the chaos, to go to the doctor to have the injuries documented.

The next Women Against Poverty meeting is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 17 Phoebe Street (women and trans-folk only) on June 10. A women and trans people of colour/Aboriginal women’s caucus will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more information about these items or upcoming meetings contact [email protected].