Toronto Tiny Shelters, an organization fronted by Khaleel Seivwright, a carpenter from Scarborough, Ont., has been constructing shelters since last September to help those without a place to go. But the project has run into opposition from the City of Toronto, which has applied for an injunction with the Ontario Superior Court to forbid placing such structures on city property. It has cited 鈥渟erious safety concerns,鈥� including fires and lack of access to water and sanitation, as well as bylaws that prohibit camping on city property.
In these pandemic times, outbreaks at shelters have compelled many homeless to shun community-based housing in favour of tents or makeshift shelters constructed in city parks 鈥� a dangerous and unhealthy situation which Seivwright鱿鱼视频app shelters aim to solve.
Faith groups have stepped up to support Toronto Tiny Shelters鈥� fight on behalf of the homeless. Faith Connections 鈥� a young adult ministry operating under the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto 鈥� is a fervent supporter. It has signed an ecumenical petition created in response to the injunction. Representatives from over 52 churches have signed the document.
Sabrina Chiefari, the interim program director for Faith Connections, says 鈥渋n the spirit of Christian neighbourly love, it made sense to join the voices of these other Christian organizations and spread the petition,鈥� adding that 鈥渋t just felt right to represent the voice of young adults.鈥�
The question, according to Chiefari, is 鈥渉ow can we address the current immediate urgent need, without forgetting the long-term changes that are required?鈥�
The Sisters of St. Joseph are no strangers to initiatives of this nature. Through Fontbonne Ministries they run the Mustard Seed Program which provides homeless persons with a hot meal, clean clothes and, most importantly, acceptance. Chiefari describes it as 鈥渁 community space where they don鈥檛 feel shunned or that they have to be pushed out.鈥�
The 28-year-old Seivwright 鈥� who was unavailable for an interview with The Catholic Register 鈥� mentioned in a February video statement that the city鱿鱼视频app actions are a 鈥渄istraction鈥� and the 鈥減roblem is not the tiny shelters, but the fact Toronto鱿鱼视频app most vulnerable people are falling through the cracks.鈥�
Many have called the city鱿鱼视频app use of resources into question, especially as the time and money spent on legal processes grows. Seivwright has almost $275,000 in donations from a GoFundMe campaign as of May 10. Originally intended to be used for building materials, a portion of the donations are now going towards legal fees.
Danny Kastner of Kastner Lam LLP is representing Seivwright. He said the construction of shelters is still a top priority for Seivwright and that lawyers 鈥渁re working at significantly reduced rates in order to ensure that the maximum amount of donations will go to鈥� construction.
Seivwright鱿鱼视频app cause has drawn plenty of support.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 take somebody who鱿鱼视频app Catholic or Christian to look at the situation of somebody providing shelter for those that are unhoused during this incredible time,鈥� said Chiefari, who calls the actions taken by the city 鈥渓udicrous.鈥�
She also points out that this particular legal issue highlights problems with the city鱿鱼视频app management of its homeless population.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to be forever a city where it鱿鱼视频app commonplace that people stay overnight on the ground because that鱿鱼视频app the safest place for them.鈥�
(Stocking, 18, is a Grade 12 student at Michael Power-St. Joseph High School in Etobicoke, Ont.)