Tent City Eviction

Canada NewsWire
General News, Tuesday, September 24, 2002

Homes First Society calls for City, Province and Federal Governments to address critical homeless issue in Toronto Supports Home Depot in today's removal of inhabitants from Tent City

Canada NewsWire

TORONTO - Homes First Society today called for the City, Province and Federal Governments to move up homelessness on their agenda immediately. 

"Today's removal of people from Tent City in Toronto wasn't about why they were moved off toxic land, rather, it was about why they were there in the first place," said Kate Stark, Executive Director, Homes First Society. "Too many people are living throughout our city on the street, in shanty lean- to's and tents- it's not acceptable and we must find a solution," she added.

Homes First Society had been working with The Home Depot Canada since February to develop a solution for Tent City that involved a private/public sector/government partnership.

"We have been working with Home Depot to address the homeless issue on the Cherry Street Lands," said Stark. "Throughout this process we have been impressed with the empathy, commitment and concern demonstrated by Home Depot. We were disappointed that the original proposal was unable to move forward on the Cherry Street site."

Homes First Society will continue to work with The Home Depot Canada and other interested parties to provide a long-term solution to the City's homeless situation.


About Homes First Society

Homes First Society was established in 1983 by a group of organizations working directly with the homeless on the streets of Toronto. From the beginning, its goal has been to develop and implement creative and innovative solutions to the many challenges of housing the homeless. Homes First currently owns and/or manages sixteen housing projects consisting of approximately 425 units and housing more than 500 men, women and children. Homes First Society was the first to create  supportive housing for single adult men and women and remain one of the largest, providers of non-profit housing in the City of Toronto.

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