Street Health
338 Dundas Street East M5A 2A1 Toronto, ON, Canada

Anything that affects all of us will always hit vulnerable, homeless populations even harder. Cold, heat, access to a washroom, access to food, where you slept last night......https://www.theglobeandmail.com//article-torontos-pandem/

Today, the provincial government announced a "stay at home" order, which will come into effect this Thursday, January 14. We recognize two things about this ord...er: * One, that it will affect frontline staff in our member drop-ins who will either be travelling to and from work or operating services before 7 am or after 8 pm; * Two, that there are no specific exceptions made for people who are sleeping rough and in encampments, meaning people who cannot "stay at home." Because of these issues, we have created two letters that our members can use to protect program staff from liability travelling to and from work, but also in support of people sleeping rough who may be targeted for bylaw enforcement. Find them here: https://tdin.ca/resource.php?id=714 While we have heard that the 'intention' by government is not to criminalize people living outdoors, without any specific exceptions, it is entirely up to the discretion of officers whether or not people's reasons for being outside are "valid." We cannot rely on enforcement officers to be empathetic toward folks who are experiencing homelessness, and in fact we need explicit protections for them regarding the "stay at home" order. On top of this, we worry that the "stay at home" order could be used to expedite encampment evictions and move people indoors into congregate settings against their will. We decry this, if it is on the table, and are resolute that there be no encampment evictions now or ever. At the same time, and given that a polar vortex is moving into the GTA at the end of the month, we also need: * more warming centres that are safely run; * more hotel spaces for people to self-isolate; * more access to healthy, safe, affordable, and appropriate housing. Indeed, if we are to have a "stay at home" order, the best remedy is to provide people with the housing required to actually stay at home and, until that happens, to create more COVID-safe indoor spaces overall.

All of these empty buildings yet people are freezing on the streets ??

The vaccination clinic at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. It will focus on vaccinating frontline healthcare workers, including those working in the city’s shelter system and as harm reduction workers. https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/covid-19-vaccination-clinic-comi

Please pass this on through your networks. Thanks.

In a city that does not always protect the homeless...an eviction "blitz" that is kicking tenants out in as little as 60 seconds. In the winter; during a pandemic. The level of cruelty described in this article is staggering!

Due to Covid-19 Street Health hours are: Monday, Wednesday,Thursday, Friday - 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Tuesday - 11:00 am - 4:00 pm... Our Street Health Overdose Prevention Site remains open. - Nursing drop-in days are Mondays and Wednesdays - ID drop-in is Tuesday 11:15-1:00 pm. Contact us (416-921-8669, x 227) Please note: -Harm Reduction Drop-In programs (Monday afternoon and Wednesday evening) are cancelled. -Volunteer kit making sessions are cancelled. --Off-site community Nursing Clinics are currently suspended To contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus, ALL CLIENTS WILL BE SCREENED prior to entering our facilities. The staff who are onsite have the training, best practices, and protective equipment to stay safe. Please wear a mask when you come to Street Health for services.

Street Health is honoured to be named a Top 5 Impact Charity by Charity Intelligence. "This recognition helps bring attention to the critical need for services for those experiencing homelessness," states Executive Director Kapri Rabin. "We are currently seeing over 150 people each day and these individuals need everything from nursing to identification to mental health supports." Hear more from Kapri on this CTV Coverage...

Toronto forecast for Sunday night: down to 4 degrees. Rain on monday; light snow on Tuesday; Covid every day.

Toronto forecast for Sunday night: down to 4 degrees. Rain on Monday; light snow on Tuesday; Covid every day.

Street Health's ID Team helps replace lost or stolen ID. Folks w/o a fixed address can use ours Our ID Safe storage program also gives clients a safe place to store ID to help prevent loss or theft from happening again. We've been doing this for years...and this right here is exactly why!

Opioid Deaths During Covid-19: "An average of 34 deaths per week occurred in Ontario during the 3.5 months before the pandemic. This increased to 46 deaths weekly in the pandemic, a [staggering] 38% increase". -click infographic for more info

It was Tie-Dye Day for the United Way at Street Health (@UWGreaterTO)! Many thanks to RN Melody for her expertise and thanks to staff for supporting this event as part of our United Way Staff Campaign.

"The people they ticket don't have money or options to socially distance" - learn more in the synopsis released by Street Health about COVID-era Ticketing in Inner-City Toronto. https://www.streethealth.ca//covid-era-ticketing-in-inner-