What: Rally, Meal and Action

When: Tuesday, November 25th, 12noon

Where: George Hislop Park north end: Charles St between Yonge and Church

Join the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty and allies this coming November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to fight for:

24 Hour women and trans drop-ins NOW

Open Shelters: real beds, not flex beds!

Safe, affordable, and accessible HOUSING FOR ALL!

November 25th marks one year since we launched the demand for 24 hour women and trans drop-in spaces following the brutal sexual assault of a homeless woman twice in one night at Dundas and Sherbourne. After continued action, Toronto City Council agreed to move forward with 24hour drop-ins. But despite the recommendation for at least one space to be opened in 2014, we are now facing a delay until later in 2015. This comes at a time when shelters, especially women and family shelters, operate at nearly 100 full every night and turn people away with nowhere to go.

We have a crisis of homelessness in the City of Toronto. The number of people in shelters is exploding. As we head into colder weather, we are faced once again with the reality of shelters being over-capacity, and with the lack of safe space at night.

Meanwhile affordable housing in Toronto is abysmal - close to 90 000 households remain on the wait-list for social housing, while private market rents skyrocket and overall vacancies are at 1.7. As we face the 'manhattanization' of Toronto - poor people are left to scramble for a place to live and are denied even the basic dignity of a place to sleep at night. As we take this action it is also National Housing Day on November 22nd we need safe, affordable and accessible housing for all!

This is about peoples lives! We are tired of the game of words and lack of action while assaults continue on the streets against homeless women and lives are put at risk.

Join us November 25th to take direct action and make sure that the City of Toronto and all levels of government act now to meet the most basic need for people's lives: access to safe space, shelter and housing.

Ontario Coalition Against Poverty

To endorse and get involved: dtewomen@gmail.com OR 416-925-6939