The case of asylum seekers sleeping on the sidewalk in Toronto (new window)due to lack of housing, made headlines in 2023.
Since then, the federal government has increased its funding (new window)but the Queen City continues to lack beds, says Gord Tanner, executive director of shelters.
This situation is not resolved
he said. We welcome the support of the federal government.
Toronto now has to house more than 6,350 refugees and asylum seekers. More than 4,300 of them have a bed in a shelter, while the other 2,000 are temporarily housed in local hotels.
Mr. Tanner says he expects half of the new spending recommended by the government affairs committee to be covered federally, if the city council approves the plan later this month.
Why a hotel in the suburbs?
At city hall, Councilor Jon Burnside asked Tanner why Toronto should look to a hotel outside the city, even though Vaughan is located just north of Toronto.
How far will you go?
he asked. I know that [Vaughan] is close, but would you go as far as Caledon or Orangeville?
It’s unusual for us to look for rooms in Vaughan
replied Mr. Tanner. But there are no hotel rooms available in Toronto.
He explains that refugee families housed in hotels generally stay there for six months before moving into their own accommodation.
Toronto has been renting rooms in hotels for refugees since April 2023. Currently, 14 families of applicants live there, says the City.
Based on information provided by Shawn Jeffords of CBC News
#Canada
