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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Sep 15

our language & policies are rooted in violence.

the more we amplify, even VENERATE, those who speak violence: from Kirk, to Ford, Barrie’s mayor, local anti-shelter neighbours, we are just as violent as the person who committed the murder.

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Sep 15

unhoused people are frequently framed as a threat to public safety.
meanwhile an unhoused person was murdered. an anchor on Fox shamelessly touted using lethal injections to kill unhoused ppl. when we discuss ‘safety’, what do we mean? who do we centre? [1/]

nam kiwanuka @namshine.bsky.social · Sep 15

“A 62-year-old homeless man was sleeping on a bench in Nathan Phillips Square, near Bay and Queen streets, after 6 a.m. on Aug. 31 when he was approached by two people.
The pair began “violently beating” the man with a hammer, unprovoked, and then fled..”

www.thestar.com/news/gta/man...

Man, 12-year-old arrested after homeless man killed in string of ‘violent’ robberies in downtown Toronto

The victim, who was homeless, was near Bay and Queen streets after 6 a.m. on Aug. 31 when he was attacked with a weapon, unprovoked, police said.

www.thestar.com

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Aug 10

we are yet in another heatwave. the city finally got water to orgs after the civic long weekend, but people are still with no options. the one 24/7 space at metro hall is embarrassingly bad. seeing so many downtown outside.
can’t we at least have water fountains?!

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 28

i am so honoured and grateful to organize with the Shelter Support Collective, a group of residents across the city welcoming shelters in their areas, and pushing for systemic changes. TODAY WE HAVE AN OP-ED OUT!! read and share!

big love to @TUHUnion_
www.torontotoday.ca/local/opinio...

OPINION: City hall must prioritize homeless constituents when siting shelters

Some councillors are using consultation as a tactic to delay new shelter construction, argue members of the newly formed Shelter Support Collective

www.torontotoday.ca

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 24

folks upset abt “taxpayer dollars” spent on harm reduction often support things that cost more: police, jails, overdoses, healthcare costs, blocking shelters…
tbh if you follow the convo & ask “so where do people go?”, it’s really that they want poor people & drug users to die.

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 23

We had 8 min to blitz through so many things, including what supervised consumption sites are (i said it: no free drugs), incarceration, involuntary treatment, "safety" & "public", compassion...

what we need "treatment" from is the harm that state abandonment has done.

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 23

Had an opportunity to be back on The Social to discuss Bill 6. Disguised as a bill to prohibit public drug use, it's really a bill abt criminalizing people who are unhoused.

here's hoping we can move the needle on this conversation towards addressing systemic change.

youtu.be/9olQ8SrB6gE?...

What You Need to Know About Canada’s Homelessness Legislation | The Social

YouTube video by The Social CTV

youtu.be

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Reposted by lorrainelamchops.bsky.social

CityScribe @cityscribe.bsky.social · Jul 20

In Conservative-led provinces, they are finding every possible way to turn our once excellent public system into private fairy dust. They start with people who have less of a voice, so the takeover is inevitable when the rest of us are impacted. Speak. Up. Now.

#CdnPoli #abpoli #ONPoli

Euan Tombstone @drugdatadecoded.ca · Jul 20

SCOOP
‘Recovery coaches’ supplied by a private company are now mandatory to access some publicly funded recovery services in Alberta.
The same company is also integrating its services into YYC emergency rooms via federal funding.
drugdatadecoded.ca/substance-us...

Alberta recovery programs require private 'coaches,' emails show

As one recovery centre admits that recovery coaches supplied by Bowline Health are now mandatory to access its residential services, it is unclear if the Province will mandate its coaches across the r...

drugdatadecoded.ca

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 16

it is SO hot. 630pm and some of the city’s “cool spaces” have closed.
there still is only one 24/7 cooling centre and it has no cots, no food, no privacy.
organizations haven’t received their water yet.

like are yall just waiting for a death before any urgency?!

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 15

imagine wearing these shirts in a housing crisis.

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 15

remember when we arrived at the third heatwave and the city still has not distributed water to organizations that serve unhoused and vulnerable people?!?!!?!!?

it is mid july.

lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jun 23

bless the private donor for giving water
bless the driver who cut through rush hour traffic to get some sauga to toronto

shame on the city for being woefully unprepared for the heatwave

this stopgap is nice but not sustainable at ALL. will the city step up?

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 14

toronto is under a severely bad air quality alert, and there is ONE 24/7 cooling centre.

no cots, no food, just four tables and foldable chairs, right in the middle of the elevator access at a busy Metro Hall - no privacy.

how is this acceptable!?

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Reposted by lorrainelamchops.bsky.social

Out of the Cold Meal Program: Saint Luke’s Toronto @ootc-stlukesto.bsky.social · Jul 14

There is a dangerous air quality index alert today & we still have no 24/7 options for people who are unhoused.

On outreach last night, our volunteer teams dropped off water, hot meals, & bagged lunches to people who live outside.

Now, will the City do their part?

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 13

Say what you know &/or feel about the housing crisis, why shelters are needed, & that you ultimately support the zoning changes to build shelters!!! If you are submitting something written, ask for your submission be made public record w your contact information redacted. [end]

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 13

So pls help: Sign up to depute (in person) or submit a written deputation to support zoning changes & the building of shelters! secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Not sure what to say?
Some ideas: [3/]

Agenda Item History 2025.PH23.3

secure.toronto.ca

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 13

This Tuesday Jul 15, Toronto’s Planning & Housing committee will discuss zoning laws for shelters. There are groups of people planning a press conference & loud public opposition to building shelters. Imagine being against shelters while the homelessness crisis balloons. [2/]

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 13

Toronto, May 2025: out of 614 calls to Central Intake, only 12 resulted in a shelter bed. So if you tried to access a shelter bed, you had a 1.9% chance of succeeding.

This, in a heatwave w ONE 24/7 cooling centre, the City decides to evicts a few tents today. [1/]

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 12

22 out of 111…..

Out of the Cold Meal Program: Saint Luke’s Toronto @ootc-stlukesto.bsky.social · Jul 12

We are yet in another heatwave, and the question remains: what is the City doing to support people who are unhoused?

June 22 in the last heat wave,we saw 111 people during 3-hour of outreach. Out of the 111 individuals, only 22 people had access to a shelter bed or a tent.

1/

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 5

heatwave again. hot outreach!

no cooling centres. (the city says they have “cooling centres” but they’re literally just places w AC that close and aren’t suitable as respites). no water to orgs yet.

what’s the plan here toronto? this is a public health issue.

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Reposted by lorrainelamchops.bsky.social

Thomas Piggott MD PhD @twpiggott.bsky.social · Jul 4

This is how the Edmonton approach is going.

Petra Schulz @msthpetra.bsky.social · Jul 3

“Edmontonians are using substances in isolated environments due to encampment removals and fewer frontline workers.” @marlisst.bsky.social
The #AB abstinence or death model.
#ABpoli
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Edmonton region hits all-time monthly peak in opioid-related deaths | CBC News

The province says it is monitoring the situation closely, and seeing improvements province-wide.

www.cbc.ca

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 4

"What, to the slave, is your 4th of July?" - frederick douglass

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 3

another person died from an encampment fire this AM. The conversation will be framed as the person’s failure to address fire safety & live outside, the fact is all levels of gvt are to blame for neglecting housing as a human right.

old clip, same msg👇🏼
www.breakfasttelevision.ca/videos/how-a...

How a lack of resources will impact Toronto’s homeless community this winter

www.breakfasttelevision.ca

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Reposted by lorrainelamchops.bsky.social

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · Jul 1

Literal cages. Not even metaphorical ones. Literal ones.

Jason Delgado (Florida Capitol reporter for Spectrum News 13) on X: "Quick look at what inside a detainment tent looks like here at Alligator Alcatraz." What is shown in the picture is a long tent structure, about 50 feet wide. There is a corridor running down the middle. On each side are three rows of bunk beds. The bunk beds are sectioned off into cells which are constructed out of chain link fence, with chain link on the ceiling as well, making each cell a literal cage. It looks to me like each cell contains 9 bunk beds, so has capacity for 18 people each.

1.8K 7.9K 18K

lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jul 1

i am really tired of all the rhetoric that says: migrants/immigrants should be welcomed because of how they work the jobs no one wants, or things to that effect.

this perspective, imo, perpetuates an ableist idea that people are only valuable if they produce. NO!

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lorrainelamchops.bsky.social @lorrainelamchops.bsky.social · Jun 25

currently working on more water.
private donations are a small bandaid but not sustainable. we need systemic changes so get involved w this piece too!!

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