Homelessness remains a significant issue in Toronto, affecting some of the city’s most vulnerable residents and contributing to health inequities.

As we enter the Season of Advent, we remember Mary who gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Data collection  on the deaths of individuals within and outside the City’s homeless shelter system began with Toronto Public Health on January 1, 2017, at the direction of Council in April 2016. To the end of October, the data indicated 83 deaths since January , or an average of two deaths a week, about 81% male and the median age at 48. The actual number of deaths may be higher as data is limited because official cause of death is limited to Coroner’s cases, not all health and social agencies report and indigenous status is largely reported as unknown.

On November 30th, at 9 A.M. I joined others at City Hall, organized by Rafi Aaron, Spokesperson for the Interfaith Coalition to Fight Homelessness and Co-chair  of Beth Sholom/Beth Tzedec Out of the Cold Shelter, to support the motions of Councillors Mihevc and Wong-Tam, that were passed at the Community Recreation Development Committee (CDRC) for the immediate opening of 1000 shelter beds to handle the current crises in the shelter system, and to stop the two homeless deaths a week in our city. These motions must be passed by Council on December 5th.

Meanwhile, every second Tuesday at noon, just outside the city’s shopping mall in its downtown core, people gather at the steps of the Church of the Holy Trinity, where they read poetry, sing songs, share news and recite names to remember those who have died while homeless in Toronto.