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At least they didn't get the Award: Streets to Slums

Toronto's Streets to Homes program somehow managed to get itself nominated for the 2008 World Habitat Awards. Luckily the project did not win; but it was one of the finalists.

Part of their entry notes "Although there was concern on the part of some activist and homeless groups initially that Streets to Homes, and in particular the Interdepartmental Protocol for Homeless Persons Camping in Public Spaces, would lead to a ‘sweeping’ of homeless people off the streets, over time these concerns have been demonstrated to be unfounded. The success of the Streets to Homes program and its fair and respectful approach have been proven over time and many of those who were skeptical of the program initially have since become supporters."

Really? Tell that to the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee (TDRC) who note, that "the Toronto Community Housing units given to “streets to homes” clients are those that have already been rejected three times by people on the affordable housing waiting list." Hence the moniker given to the program Streets to Slums.

Over 300 shelter beds have been lost; the city saved $5 million dollars as a result - but the money didn't go to the homeless who need the support. TDRC points out that the Streets to Homes funding came from cuts to other projects. Some support.

Beric German, co-founder, TDRC, "I think the most damning thing is that this strategy is to replace a national housing program. It is not just smoke and mirrors, it's a cruel policy that is used to sweep the streets. On the one hand, what happens now, is when the cops come they say you're served so why are you here; the homeless are ticketed. It's an overall policy to clean up the city in the sense that you shouldn't see poverty in the downtown core. It's a policy used through North America. It takes the place of creating a National Housing Policy for everyone; it is constantly promoted as a good news story."

German adds, "World Habitat claim to have come to Toronto for three days to meet with Streets to Homes but they didn't meet with the TDRC, they met with people who were relatively sympathetic. Would it not have been obvious to phone OCAP [The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty] or the TDRC as some of the most obvious people to interview who advocate against Streets to Homes? They wouldn't have had to stretch themselves too much to come and find out who we were and to speak with us about it."

Streets to Homes published a report entitled "Preliminary Findings of 2007 post-occupancy research"

Take a look at the opening statement, found right after the cover page, "'I am getting more help now that I have housing. For a long time I didn't want any help. Now it's time to do something. Time to be an adult.' Streets to Homes client."

So those on the Streets aren't adults; don't act like adults - what a way to start off what is to be a self-congratulatory piece. Tell that to the people we've met on the streets because of cancer or other illnesses that cost them their life savings. Canada may have Universal Health Care but that doesn't cover rent or food. What's worse Streets to Houses claims to have housed over 1,200 people since February 2005 but for some reason only 88 individuals out of 639 met the eligibility criteria to be interviewed for Streets to Homes survey. If 1,200 have been housed by the organization their addresses out to be pretty easy to find. Just over half meet the eligibility criteria and of those 14 % (88/639) are selected to be participants. Yet again a city hall stunt that doesn't pass the smell test.

If the criteria for a survey dismisses over 85 percent of possible respondents then something is wrong with the selection process - unless of course only 14% have positive things to say about the program.