The Ongoing Challenge of Homelessness

 Yesterday Toronto Police arrived at the area around the old Lamport Stadium in Toronto and began removing the unhoused people who call an encampment there home. The film footage certainly made this eviction appear to be chaotic as the residents resisted, people yelled and screamed, and arrests were made. 

After the dust settled we heard from advocates for the homeless who decried what transpired. It's important that this voiceless segment of our society has people who will speak boldly on their behalf. We also heard from representatives of the city, including the mayor, who insist that they've been working on shelter beds of various kinds for those who were evicted but this has been resisted by encampment residents. 

Homeless encampments are a reality across the country, and often is smaller cities as well. Peterborough has been working to find compassionate solutions, as has Bellevill, but it isn't straightforward  Often those without housing are regarded as a nuisance, a logistical problem, but I sense that many municipalities are genuinely trying to get a sense of the systemic issues and the importance of recognizing the humanity of those who are without housing. 

Sometimes those who are advocates for the homeless speak truth to power, which is prophetic, and it needs to continue. Sometimes there are statements which just don't strike me as helping to address what needs to happen in providing safe and affordable housing. One critic of what unfolded yesterday wondered how this eviction could happen when some in the city are paying  huge sums for condos and homes. While the price of real estate is staggering in Toronto the issues of homelessness and the unsafe conditions in encampments would still exist if housing was a quarter of the cost. 

As a compassionate society we need to address affordable housing and living wages and all the conditions which can contribute to homelessness, including mental illness and addiction. I'm convinced that communities of faith can be important contributors to finding solutions. As Christians who follow the oft-times homeless Jesus, it is a moral imperative.Jesus never says that the poor will be judged by God, but he does say that those who ignore them will be. 

I hope and pray that there will be fewer and fewer confrontations like the one yesterday. Everyone loses, it seems to me, especially those who often "live rough" to have a sense of personal freedom and community. 

Evy Kwong ⁦‪@EVYSTADIUM‬⁩ it’s actually insane that we live in a city where we allow $800K condos and $2 million homes to exist and thrive and rise but send dozens of cops to enforce the removal of people living in encampments   2021-05-19, 3:25 PM