Nearly 200 community members bravely held rain in Etobicoke on Sunday and opposed the proposed location of the proposed new homeless shelter.
The Toronto Parking Authority at 66 Third Street near the lakeshore and near Islington Avenue will be in three to five years with an 80-bed adult shelter. Opponents say that’s the right reason, but the wrong place points out that it is near multiple schools and a senior citizen center.
“From a safety perspective, the location doesn’t make sense,” said one resident. “My kids have to walk here on the way to school and go to our favorite coffee shop to our playground. It doesn’t bring a sense of security to this community.”
Another resident explained: “They were blocked in this huge facility opposite a school next to a high-end facility next to a school with children (and) and then we had another school just a few blocks.”
Another said: “My kids don’t need to pick up the needle. It’s not safe for them.”
Another demoer added: “I do believe we absolutely need a shelter, but building it in a parking lot 90 meters from the premium residence is definitely the worst idea ever.”
More than a dozen activists came out to express their support, believing that the size of the facility means the impact on the community will be minimal.
“This will be a small shelter for 80 people, so I’m not sure what they’re worried about,” one supporter said. “Also, it’s a process developed by municipal staff, so they did this research to figure it out, so I don’t buy it.”
“The location will never be perfect,” said another person who supported the project. “My ideal goal is to work together as a community and make sure we welcome our neighbors.”
“These people already live in the park under unqualified conditions. Giving them a shelter and giving them a place to call home, even temporarily, would alleviate many of the problems some of them think are going to be created,” another said.
The city will host a virtual town hall on April 15 to discuss the proposed shelter.
