Gigi, 7 months ago

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#TORONTO
#URGENT #UPDATE
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1/2 🧵
More disgusting shenanigans by misery profiteers Homes First.

Police arresting, assaulting, then "UNARRESTING" unhoused people, for advocating for their own rights.

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Please call:
Kareen at 647.455.2218 to let them know the broader community has eyes on the situation.
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Original post:
https://kolektiva.social/@Gigi/111365923467806349

#HousingForAll #HousingIsAHumanRight #HousingNow #WhoKeepsUsSafe #CommunityDefence
#TorontoActions #AlertaAlertaAntifascista

When they denied staff entry to their room, staff wrote up a service restriction-that is, they were kicked out of the shelter - for "theft" of the fan. When the police arrived, Anthony complied with the search and no fan was found. Anthony video-taped the search and it is clear that they were very accommodating. Then staff wrote up a second service restriction for "refusing to compy with shelter directives." The staff have accused Anthony of "throwing an object at the door" when staff attempted to enter their room - a claim that Anthony denies. The service restrictions are for 7 days each. Anthony was asked to pack up all their belongings in half an hour and then police were called again to escort them off the property.
Anthony called Voices support lawyer at Community Justice Collective and alerted Voices from the Shelter Hotels and started a hunger strike outside the Delta until they spoke to a supervisor. They were joined by a few of their neighbours and Voices member, Dreddz. We all emailed and called the head supervisor Kereen to complain about Anthony's treatment. Kereen eventually called and spoke with Anthony and admitted that the staff were in the wrong while at the same time, asserting her staff`s version of events in an email to Voices (cc'd to SSHA, Homes First management, and the city ombudsman). Despite rescinding the service restriction for theft, Kereen has refused to let Anthony back into their room saying that they could speak with her about it Wednesday morning.
In further communications with Anthony, Voices found out that in protest of their treatment, they refused to leave property and were arrested by police and forcibly removed without most of their belongings (no clothes) to 545 Lakeshore and then unarrested when delivered there. Police assaulted Anthony by grabbing their mask and hat and tearing it from their head and then banned them from the Delta. Homes First also made Anthony sign a "Final Behavioral Contract" in order for them to be admitted into 545 Lakeshore. These are carceral actions which characterize the shelter system in Toronto.