Category Archives: homelessness

Shoot!! Or, maybe talk?

Posted on July 17, 2014 by

It’s almost a year since an 18-year-old boy, Sammy Yatim, was shot to death by a Toronto police officer. He was alone in a streetcar. With a 3” knife. I guess they thought that heavy, iron streetcar couldn’t contain him. … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, homelessness, mental illness, police shooting, Sammy Yatim, Toronto Police | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Yes, it is our job to feed our neighbour’s child.

Posted on January 4, 2014 by

Once again, a typical Conservative statement of values (with apologies to Hugh Segal): Minister James Moore says “Well, obviously nobody wants kids to go to school hungry. Certainly we want to make sure that kids go to school full bellied, … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable housing, compassion, homelessness, Inclusion, Roncesvalles Village | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Housing, dignity, caring + sharing

Posted on September 6, 2013 by

As I did my seven-minute stroll to my favourite café this morning, I passed no less than three ‘homeless’ people I didn’t recognize.   If you spend a lot of time ‘out in the  neighbourhood’, you recognize the regulars, chat with … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, homelessness, mental illness, Roncesvalles Village, stigma, urban life, volunteer, world class city | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What do we want? Homes!!

Posted on August 1, 2013 by

Okay, so where are the activists on housing?  Why do we not see rallies at City Hall or Queen’s Park,  with Naomi Klein stirring the crowd? Naomi:  “What do we want?” Crowd: “Homes!” Naomi: “When do we want them?” Crowd:  … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, affordable housing, homelessness, Naomi Klein, poverty, urban life, world class city | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Toronto’s loss, Hamilton’s gain?

Posted on May 15, 2013 by

A friend of mine – single mother of three wonderful adolescents – is trying to find a two-bedroom apartment close to their father, in the west end of Toronto.   That way they could easily visit back and forth between the … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable housing, gentrification, homelessness, Roncesvalles Village, Toronto | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The tender cafe

Posted on May 10, 2013 by

How precious is the kindness and gentleness that surrounds me every day.  I treasure it.  It is part of a sub-culture hard to find in many places.  I think that’s why I head here every morning.  I can’t imagine a … Continue reading →

Posted in coffee, compassion, homelessness, Roncesvalles Village, urban life, world class city | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Condos, condos everywhere…. or, suburbia?

Posted on December 2, 2012 by

Well, here we are once again reacting to another condo proposition in Roncesvalles Village.  Our city councillor (Gord Perks) hosted a neighbourhood meeting the other night, the purpose of which was to provide the developers (Mattamy Homes) with feedback from … Continue reading →

Posted in 905, affordable housing, community, compassion, gentrification, High Park, homelessness, Inclusion, neighbourhood, Roncesvalles Village, social change, Toronto, Uncategorized, urban life, urban planning | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment