Mayor supports city efforts to find lodging for Toronto's homeless

Torontosun.com
Sept. 14, 2020
Joe Warmington

“Totally unacceptable.”

That was Mayor John Tory’s reaction when he heard about reporter David Menzies being viciously bitten in Trinity Bellwoods Park on Wednesday.

“Had you reached out about Mr. Menzies being attacked in the park, I would have told you that the attack is totally unacceptable and we are glad Toronto Police immediately investigated and arrested two people,” the Mayor spokesperson Don Peat said Saturday.

As for the large tent city in the park that runs from Queen St. W. north to Dundas St., the Mayor shares concerns by residents of the effective takeover of many sections of the park since July.

“The Mayor agrees with you that encampments are totally unacceptable but like cities across Canada and the U.S. we have seen an increase in encampments during COVID-19,” said Peat. “The Mayor has supported the work of city officials to move people out of encampments -- more than 800 people have been moved into shelters and their encampments have been removed.”

Buildings slated to be demolished or hotels have been contracted to house people normally living in the shelter system and have been displaced because of concerns of contracting COVID-19.

The Roehampton at Mount Pleasant and Eglinton has been used and Sue-Ann Levy revealed Saturday that Bond Place Hotel, just east of Yonge-Dundas Square, began housing about 130 people on Aug. 21.

“The Bond Place hotel is one of many shelter sites the city has established across Toronto to expand the shelter system to ensure physical distancing in our shelter system during the pandemic,” said Peat. “These shelters are where people moved out of the encampments go so if you’re advocating for less shelters that would likely lead to more encampments at this point.”

Added Peat: “This approach to expanding our shelter system has helped ensure we didn’t see the virus spread through the vulnerable homeless population. This was a real concern when COVID-19 began.We are working to put supports into all shelters -- including Bond Place -- to help people with addictions and mental health issues so that they can transition into more permanent housing.”

In the meantime, Menzies told the Sun he is recovering from bite wounds to both thighs and his thumb. He said at no time did he approach anybody in the encampment or any tent.

Peat said the Mayor’s office “understand the dog was seized by city officials and will likely be euthanized.”