Almost 200 neighborhood members braved the rain in Etobicoke on Sunday to talk for and towards the proposed web site of a brand new homeless shelter.
The Toronto Parking Authority lot at 66 Third Road close to Lake Shore Boulevard West and Islington Avenue is about to accommodate an 80-bed grownup shelter inside three to 5 years. Opponents say it’s the precise trigger however the improper spot, mentioning it’s close to a number of faculties and a seniors’ centre.
“The situation doesn’t make sense from a security perspective,” mentioned one resident. “My youngsters need to stroll previous right here on their method to college, to go to our favorite espresso store and to go to our playground. It doesn’t instill a way of security for this neighbourhood.”
“They’re jamming this enormous facility proper throughout the road from a college with kids (and) proper beside a senior’s facility, after which we’ve obtained one other college only a couple blocks away,” defined one other resident.
“My youngsters don’t must be choosing up needles. It’s not secure for them,” mentioned one other.
“I do imagine that we’d like shelters, completely, however to construct it in a parking zone 90 metres from a senior’s residence is totally the worst concept ever,” added one other demonstrator.
Greater than a dozen activists got here out to indicate their help, arguing that the scale of the power means the influence on the neighborhood shall be minimal.
“That is going to be a small shelter for 80 individuals, so I’m undecided what they’re anxious about,” mentioned one supporter. “Additionally, this was a course of that was developed by metropolis workers, in order that they did the examine to determine this out, so I don’t purchase it.”
“The situation won’t ever be good,” mentioned one other in favour of the mission. “My best purpose is to work collectively as a neighborhood and ensure we welcome our neighbours.”
“These individuals are already dwelling in parks in sub-standard circumstances. Giving them a shelter and giving them a spot to name dwelling, even briefly, will mitigate numerous the problems that a few of these individuals imagine are going to be created,” mentioned one other.
The town is about to host a digital city corridor to debate the proposed shelter on April fifteenth.