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TDRC Media Releases |
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January 20,
2003 For Immediate Release ALERT – City restricts hours of new warming centre. What was a band-aid response to the homelessness crisis becomes worse as the City slashes centre hours in half. TDRC calls for expert investigation As the City reduces hours of its warming centre from 24 to 12 hours a day, the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee is requesting that Toronto’s Hostel Services allow a team of independent professionals to investigate Toronto’s hostel system including the Out of the Cold program. The team would consist of medical doctors, psychiatrists, nurses and individuals with experience in regards to the risk of substandard conditions related to excessive crowding (ie. transmission of airborne and other diseases as well as dangers to mental health). This request comes in light of the fact that the shelter system is running well below standards set by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees’ Handbook for Emergencies. Specifically the TDRC refers to paragraphs 71, 72, 77, 78, 86 sec. 1 and paragraph 93 sec.1 of the Handbook. The UNCHR Handbook is available at www.unhcr.ch. The TDRC will request that the team of experts be allowed to enter the hostel system at any time. It would interview hostel users, hostel workers, outreach workers and professionals with the expertise to comment on what they witness. In December 2002, TDRC released a new secret video revealing already crowded conditions in Toronto hostels. Over 60 organizations including the Advisory Committee on Homelessness to the City of Toronto have called on the city to open a new 200-bed shelter to alleviate the crowding and improve conditions. To date the City’s hostel administration, led by Phil Brown, has refused to open a new shelter. An independent investigation would determine whether city councillors and Toronto’s citizenry have been properly informed of the present circumstances. For more information, contact TDRC at tdrc@tdrc.net -30- |