Long-term answers needed on housing
Re Homeless shelters could be coming to a neighbourhood near you, July 11 Discussions about a proposed 100-bed homeless shelter in the Rockcliffe-Smythe neighbourhood focus on short-term shelter solutions instead of long-term systemic change for Toronto’s vulnerable and marginalized populations.
While there are more than 4,000 permanent emergency shelter beds in Toronto, the high occupancy rates of more than 90 per cent every night illustrate the need for more beds. Additionally, the George Street Revitalization project will reduce the number of these beds available in the future. And due to rising real estate prices, any new shelters and services are forced outside of the downtown core to neighbourhoods such as Rockcliffe-Smythe.
Although homelessness is most visible in the downtown core due to the concentration of services there, people throughout Toronto experience challenges stemming from poverty and food insecurity. Rockcliffe-Smythe, for instance, is a Neighbourhood Improvement Area (NIA) and it boasts an unemployment rate of 12 per cent, which is higher than the city of Toronto rate of 9 per cent.
While much of the discussion around the proposed shelter in this neighbourhood includes NIMBY responses to homelessness, the reality is that there are concerns about supporting vulnerable individuals in an NIA that requires special attention to support the population that already resides there.
The reality is that the desire to increase the number of beds and open new shelters is a reflection of our inability to address the needs of our vulnerable and marginalized populations. This demand will continue to grow until there is longterm systemic change, which includes increased affordable housing and increased employment opportunities.
Let’s change the conversation by empowering the residents of RockcliffeSmythe to share their stories about barriers and limits within their community so they can advocate for real social change. Ashley Blake, Scarborough