Homelessness and Housing

Come out to hear NYC's Movement for Justice in El Barrio:
'El Barrio is Not for Sale, It is to be Loved & Defended'
with speakers from OCAP and NOII-TO
25 March 2011, 6pm – 8pm (Including a Community Dinner)
St Lukes United Church, 353 Sherbourne Avenue at Carlton St.

Come hear Juan Haro and Maria Mercado from Movimiento por Justicia del Barrio, or Movement for Justice in El Barrio, in East Harlem, NYC, as they share stories of their struggle, build connections, and raise funds. Movement for Justice in El Barrio is an organization composed mainly of immigrant tenants in El Barrio, New York City that fights for human dignity and against community displacement.

They fight for the liberation of every marginalized group, including immigrants, people of color, women, gays, lesbians, transgender communities, and all the poor of the world. Movement for Justice in the Barrio is part of The Other Campaign, initiated by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation.

Movimiento’s members, at over 600 strong, have never taken on a battle they have not won. In addition to taking on and defeating greedy landlords and multi-national corporations, they also target the city institutions and politicians who facilitate gentrification and displacement. Of the many organizing tactics and strategies members utilize to build solidarity with other organizations and advance their struggle, include Zapatista-inspired community consultations (consultas) and gatherings (Encuentros).

June 21 - 4pm
Allan Gardens
Free Meal - Entertainment

Turf Wars: Low Income Neighbourhoods vs. Upscale Redevelopment

From 2004 to 2007, Tickets Under the Safe Streets Act have Increased 288%

As the grotesque oversupply of housing for the rich creeps into poor areas of the city, a ruthless drive to push out homeless people gathers force. People are targeted by cops. Those forced to beg on the streets are hounded and their civil liberties disregarded. Services to the homeless are curtailed by the city. Hundreds of shelter beds are taken out of the hostel system and the places that remain become overcrowded dangerous hell holes. Under the City's Streets to Homes project, homeless people are dumped in tiny rooms with no resources and no support, in conditions that make the shelters look humane. The War on Homeless People has grown uglier and gained in speed.

Defy the process of upscale development - join a takeover of a city park for the homeless. Help OCAP ensure that the covert plot to drive the homeless from view is made a public issue.

Download Poster PDF (4 mb)

PHOTOS

• Graeme's Gallery

FLICKR:
• Lots of great shots on Spirited_Away's Flickr page
• A few nice photos on Mute's Photo Blog
• A bunch of photos up on Jovesky's Flickr page too

VIDEO

YOUTUBE:
• Some footage from the march heading to Queen's Park, with a little commentary thrown in
• Quick Clip from the march on September 26
• Interview with Anne from Health Providers Against Poverty
• An interview with another Anne, this one from Housing Action Now
• And another interview, with Michael of the Homelessness Action Group
• Speeches at Queen's Park
• Getting onto the lawn at Queen's Park
• Toronto Anti-Poverty Ad for September 26

NEWS MEDIA

• CITYNEWS: Hundreds Of Anti-Poverty Protestors Converge On Queen's Park (includes video)

• TORONTO STAR: Anti-poverty protesters make an election pitch
• SUN MEDIA: Day of Action rally draws crowds
• TORONTO STAR 2: Protests slow traffic

On June 28th, a small but militant group of Kingston Coalition Against Poverty (KCAP) and Belleville Against Social Injustice Collective (BASIC) members disrupted and delayed the proceedings of the evictions machine otherwise known as the Kingston Housing Tribunal.

The group stormed the Housing Tribunal carrying a big KCAP/OCF banner and signs such as '$10 Minimum Wage', 'This is an Eviction Factory', 'Housing for All', Stop the Evictions' and 'No Justice - No Peace'

On Wednesday March 8, two more Housing Tribunals were disrupted as part of the Raise the Rates Campaign. In Toronto, members of OCAP and special diet recipients disrupted the Toronto South tribunal at 79 St. Clair East before being moved out by police. This follows an action in February where OCAP shut down the North Toronto tribunal for a full day. In Guelph Ontario, a similar action was carried out (click 'read more' to read a report about that action).

HOUSING TRIBUNAL BROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL

This month, the impact of the Liberal Government’s cut to the Special Diet Supplement is starting to be felt, as some families lose the food allowance and return to the tough choice they used to face pay the rent or feed their families.

On Friday, February 10, OCAP took the fight against this cut and the demand for a 40% increase in welfare and disability rates, right to the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal. This body legalizes the process of putting poor people on the streets when they fall behind on their rent.