Toronto's Shelter and Housing Justice Network is reporting that more than 30 names will be added to the homeless memorial at the Church of the Holy Trinity, a record number for the city.<\/p>\n
According to the organization's recent press release<\/a>, the city had a sharp increase in homeless deaths, attributing to the lack of affordable housing, increasing drug overdose incidents and the lack of essential workers to address these ongoing concerns.<\/p>\n To honour those that passed away in the month of November, the network held a vigil in front of Holy Trinity church, where friends and families were invited to speak about their loved ones.<\/p>\n In response to the spike in homeless deaths, the Shelter and Housing Justice Network has made six demands to the City of Toronto government to help address the city\u2019s homeless crisis.<\/p>\n The demands are:<\/p>\n As the winter months get colder, the network says that shelter spaces and safe injection sites continue to be limited both by the COVID-19 pandemic and the shortage of essential staff for these faculities.<\/p>\n Further, the no camping bylaw has severely affected individuals that used public parks and spaces as shelter prior to the summer months.<\/p>\n Starting in May, several encampments around Trinity Bellwoods Park, Alexandria Park, Moss Park and Lamport Stadium were dismantled by the city and Toronto police.<\/p>\n The evictions in Trinity Bellwoods and Lamport Stadium were criticized heavily by several homeless advocacy groups across the city as violent clashes<\/a> between police officers and protesters were caught on video and tents were forcibly destroyed.<\/p>\n The network published its full winter plan sent to Toronto Mayor John Tory and all city councillors on Oct.12.<\/p>\n\n
\nsteps to reduce such deaths.<\/li>\n
\nrecommendations of\u00a0Toronto Shelter-Hotel Overdose Preparedness Assessment
\nProject.<\/li>\n
\nsystem.<\/li>\n
\n3,000.<\/li>\n
\nCivil Protection Act.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n