END OF A LONG LIFE
A majestic tree falls in Kew Gardens
Beach area residents take photos and look at a very large tree that has fallen in Kew Gardens just off Queen Street in the Beaches. The tree came down on Saturday night.
Hill was one of about 30 people who attended an information session this week for HomeShare, a new pilot project that looks to match seniors who live alone and have room to spare in their house or apartment for young students who are cash-strapped and in need of affordable housing.
Starting in September, the project will pair at least 20 students from the University of Toronto, Ryerson University and York University with senior homeowners or renters. The program aims to bridge an intergenerational gap, while addressing housing affordability for young people.
Members of the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly, a Toronto non-profit organization that won a provincial grant to carry out the pilot project, hosted the information session at city hall to offer details on how the pilot will work.
They explained that participating students will get a rental discount from homeowners in exchange for contributing to household chores, such as snow removal, grocery shopping or walking a dog.
“We know that there’s a housing crisis in Toronto, we know that there’s less than a 2 per cent vacancy rate within the city and we also know that the housing costs can be unattainable for students,” said Tonya Salomons, a social worker and one of the project’s leaders.
She said the project will help ease the burden of physical labour on seniors, while creating social and emotional connections between them and young people — some of whom may be new to the country and could face loneliness and depression.
“While there’s a monetary benefit, we’re hoping that it’s more than just a room,” Salomons said, adding both parties can learn from each other’s cultural background and prevent social isolation.
“It could mean that a senior gets someone to share a meal