“I invite him to live a month in my shoes before telling me how to live my life,” Asil Lavoie
Video footage of the press conference available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U28ygaHIMVoF53enc-dsII9FYGtRe4gZ/view
Toronto, ON ⸺ Today, NDP Housing Critic Jessica Bell (University—Rosedale) was joined by housing providers and homeless people to call on Premier Ford to solve the homelessness crisis, and stop scolding the poor.
On Monday, Premier Ford sparked outrage by telling healthy people living in encampments to get off their A-S-S and start working, while promising to take care of unhealthy people. “Ford’s comments about vulnerable people are insulting, out of touch, and harmful,” said Bell. “Instead of scolding the poor, Premier Ford should solve Ontario’s homelessness crisis. People need homes, not insults,” said Bell.
“Hearing Doug Ford’s comments made me feel both aggravated and enraged,” said Jay, who lives in a tent in downtown Toronto, and has been looking for a shelter bed for six months.
“I know that once I am in a shelter, personally, I will be able to find a job. But in a tent situation – it’s nearly impossible,” he said.
“It made me sad, angry, and frustrated to hear Doug Ford claim that the province takes care of people with disabilities, who are unable to work,” said Asil Lavoie, who lives in a shelter hotel and struggles with Multiple Sclerosis. “Those that need support the most often feel abandoned. We are left to fend for ourselves,” said Lavoie. “I invite Ford to spend just one month living on the resources we have, facing our bills and challenges, and then come back to tell us how to live this life,” she said.
The Ontario NDP is calling on Ontario to fix Ontario’s homelessness crisis, starting with participating in the new federal government program to combat homelessness, doubling social assistance rates, and building 250,000 non-market and affordable homes on public land.
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