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TDRC Media Releases |
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March 12, 2002 Breaking
the Homeless Logjam The Toronto Disaster Relief
Committee (TDRC) and Toronto’s Homeless Advisory Committee have long
wondered who is responsible for the present hostel crisis. “We now know
where the problem lies,” says Musonda Kidd of the TDRC after a short
meeting with the Acting Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood
Services, Eric Gam. This
revelation comes on the heels of the Advisory Committee calling for a two
hundred bed hostel to be opened immediately; Toronto City Council passing
a motion that the Federal government make it clear that they would allow
the armouries to be opened if requested; and Tony Ianno, a Federal MP
declaring that if requested the armouries would be made available. “At our meeting with the
powerful commissioner, he stated clearly that he would not recommend any
emergency shelter be made available. Further he stated that hostel
services had things under control,” says Beric German, TDRC co-founder. In the same period as Jim Flaherty
calls for homeless people to be arrested, a City official makes it
abundantly clear that homeless people will be left on the streets until
permanent shelter can be constructed. This crucial stance is being taken
with the full knowledge of the present crisis and the fact that the Out of
the Cold program will be winding down at the end of March removing 180
beds from the system. The TDRC will be organizing an action to expose the logjam that Eric Gam has helped to create on the same day as people gather to mourn the ever increasing deaths and suffering of homeless people. People at the Homeless Vigil will be joining the action to “Break the Gam Logjam.” For more information, contact TDRC at tdrc@tdrc.net -30- |