Background here: Taking it Back: The campaign for housing and services in Toronto’s Downtown East https://rabble.ca/news/2013/09/taking-it-back-campaign-housing-and-services-torontos-downtown-east
Sunday September 22, 2013
3:00 pm
Allan Gardens
Toronto, ON
The Call Out:
Fwd: *Meal, Gathering, March and Action
*Bring your mats, tents, sleeping bags and cardboard – prepare to sleep out!
The Downtown East area in Toronto is one of the poorest neighborhoods in the country. It is also a neighborhood experiencing rapid change as developers aim to buy up and redevelop the area. Governments are paving the way for gentrification by rolling out the red carpet for developers and by cutting vital services like shelters, drop-ins and programs.
As condos go up, rooming houses and single rooms are disappearing rapidly. When neighborhoods change, rent skyrockets. People are dying on the streets of this city because of a chronic lack of affordable and accessible housing. There are close to 90 000 households on a 10 year + long waiting list for social housing and shelters are operating over capacity. Conditions of overcrowding are at a breaking point in the shelter system as the City fails to conform to its own policy of keeping capacity no more than 90%. Meanwhile, jails and prisons – the only type of ‘housing’ the government is committing to expanding – fill up with people from the neighbourhood.
Action is Needed!
Together we have fought for and won many things in this neighborhood over the years. We have stood our ground. On September 22nd we do so again and fight for the basic rights to health, comfort and dignity. We won’t watch the condo towers go up, and services be shut down, as houses sit abandoned, people die on the streets, are harassed in the parks, or are thrown in jails. They have been taking our community piece by piece – it’s time to take it back. Join us on the streets September 22nd, prepare to sleep out – help us fight for Housing, Shelter and Safe Space NOW!
ACCESSIBILITY Information: All spaces and march route will be wheelchair accessible using all curb-cuts. A car (not wheelchair accessible) is available for those who need a break during the march. All meals will have meat and veggie options.
Download flyer and poster here: http://ocap.ca/node/1090
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
www.ocap.ca
416-925-6939
Calling all organizations, flying-squads and allies – Please support the September 22nd Action. Here’s how:
1) Organize a contingent for September 22nd: join us the day and take on a shift for the over-night. Pick a meet-up spot for your group, bring banners and signs!
2) Outreach: help us get the word out by forwarding the announcement, posting on your website and distributing posters and flyers in your neighborhood. Posters and flyers can be downloaded and printed from www.ocap.ca OR let us know and we will be sure to get them to you
3) In-Kind Support and Donations: In order for this event and the ongoing campaign to be a success, we need to ensure that we can print materials, provide food and transportation. Financial contributions to ‘Taking It Back’ will be going towards the cost of items and services such as ASL interpretation, a generator, sound system, transportation, tents, meals, speakers and logistics. If your organization can make a donation to Taking It Back by way of a financial donation or in-kind donations it would be greatly appreciated. SEE OUR WISH LIST of items and services we need help with below!
Wish List for September 22nd
• Colour Printing!
• ASL Interpreters
• TTC tokens
• Generator
• Sound System
• Meal and food items
• Tents
• Sleeping Bags and Blankets
ENDORSED BY:
Aids Action Now!
Assaulted Women’s and Children’s Counsellor/Advocate Program at George Brown College
Barrio Nuevo
Centre for Social Justice
CUPE 4308
Greater Toronto Workers Assembly
Movement Defence Committee
Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto
No More Silence, Toronto
No One is Illegal-Toronto (NOII)
OPIRG U of T
OPIRG York
OPSEU 548
Parkdale Against Poverty
Parkdale Community Legal Services
Rising Tide Toronto
Rittenhouse
#30#
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