300 in chambers witness `historic day'
Graeme Bacque (gbacque@idirect.com)
Thu, 29 Oct 1998 06:04:56 -0500
October 29, 1998
300 in chambers witness `historic day'
But quick action urged to save lives of homeless
By Joel Baglole and Bruce DeMara
Toronto Star Staff Reporters
They cheered, they jeered but most of the more than 300 people who
packed council chambers yesterday came away pleased with Toronto's
motion seeking to declare homelessness a national disaster.
``This is a very historic day,'' said Cathy Crowe, a ``street nurse'' at
the Queen West Community Health Centre and a member of the Toronto
Disaster Relief Committee.
``We'll have one of the strongest government voices speaking out to
provincial and federal governments. They (city council) are also going
on record to say, `We can't do this alone and this is a disaster,'''
Crowe said.
`COME A LONG WAY'
David Hulchanski, a University of Toronto professor studying the issue
of homelessness and a member of the disaster relief committee, said city
councillors have come a long way in their understanding of the issue.
``Six months ago, I would not think this would happen. So many
councillors are so much more informed now, so that's quite impressive.
They come from very different places around the city and they're coming
together on this topic,'' Hulchanski said.
``When the nation's largest city sends this message, it's important, and
other cities are adopting this, too,'' he added.
The council chamber was packed with social service providers, church
workers, homeless people and even school children. The crowd frequently
applauded council but gave Mayor Mel Lastman an unusually rough ride.
``I don't know why you're yelling and screaming, because we all agree
with you,'' an exasperated Lastman said at one point.
Beric German, 51, who helped in the drafting of the motion, said action
is urgently needed on the issue. ``This can save lives. But things need
to move and move quickly, or people will die.''
Kevin Clarke, 34, a homeless man who berated Lastman throughout the
debate, wasn't impressed with council's actions.
``These politicians are sitting here talking about what the federal and
provincial governments aren't doing. But they're not talking about what
. . . Toronto is going to do,'' Clarke said.
Ruth Draxler, a teacher of a Grade 4-5 class at Diefenbaker Public
Elementary School, said the debate taught her students a valuable lesson
in municipal government.
``It's good the students get to see this. Most of their parents have
never seen the inside of a council chamber. They (students) don't really
understand it right now, other than that people are quite worked up,''
Draxler said.
At a pancake breakfast for the homeless and community activists before
the council meeting, many expressed concern that the crisis will deepen.
``We're seeing adults that are just trying to make it, some with kids
with them, and they just can't provide a proper meal for them,'' said
Faith Wood, 39, who lives in a shelter and volunteers at the Calvary
Baptist Church food bank.
``We've had to turn people away because of the food not coming in. Since
we started, the number of people has tripled,'' Wood added.
Kathie Gallardo, 29, a child advocate worker at Nellie's Hostel for
Women, said, homelessness is driving families irrevocably apart.
`PEOPLE SCARED'
``What's happening is the break-up of families. Mothers are actually
giving their children up because they can't provide for them.''
Alison Kemper, executive director of the 519 Community Centre, said
attendance at a Sunday drop-in program has tripled in three years.
``People are poorer, sicker, more desperate, more addicted, more
disturbed,'' Kemper said. But she said she's heartened by the public
response to the homeless crisis.
``I think it's really exciting, this groundswell of public opinion. I
think people are really scared and appalled by what's happened to this
city and how we've been left to take care of many of Canada's social
problems,'' Kemper said.
One homeless man said he can't even turn to his family.
``I have family all over Toronto. My mother is more concerned about me
embarrassing her than whether I freeze to death on the street,'' said
Greg, 43, who asked his last name not be used.
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