Rafi Aaron

Spokesperson, Interfaith Coalition to Fight Homelessness, water to encampments, Coordinator, OOTC Meal Program Saint Luke's UC, [email protected]

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

I ws in Downtown T.O. today & saw a new encampment. @JohnTory if you take down tents & encampments without providing #housingorhotels you’re just shuffling them around the City & spreading COVID-19 @ the same time. People in need of shelter have nowhere to go.

[BetMGM Canada @BetMGMCanada]

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[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

.@JILLSLASTWORD thank you for being a social justice warrior & showing up time & time again to fight the good fight with us & for being there when it mattered most- when the cameras & microphones weren't present.

[Dr. Jill Andrew, PhD (she/her) @JILLSLASTWORD]

.@RafiInterfaith what an outstanding individual! Being a part of recognizing Rafi was one of my highest honours when I served as MPP. Rafi's commitment to the most disenfranchised is a lesson in humanity we can all follow (blessings to you too Cathy for your heartful leadership!)

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

Thanks so much @cathyacrowe for your kind words & for posting this. It’s really been a team effort. Thanks to the clergy & faith groups, the endless # of volunteers, harm reduction & front-line workers & mostly my teachers: those with lived experience, peers & PWUD @JILLSLASTWORD

[CathyCrowe @cathycrowe.bsky.social 🇨🇦 @cathyacrowe]

😉I got my hand on these fab shots of @JILLSLASTWORD with @RafiInterfaith
Rafi was awarded the well deserved King’s Coronation Medal. He not only coordinated interfaith #OutoftheCold work for years he pivoted that work to a @OOTC_StLukesTO meal program feeding thousands…. 2

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

This inspiring landscape was created by Natan who is participating in the 15th annual Beth Sholom/Beth Tzedec Out of the Cold Art Showcase, featuring art created by guests who use our Out of the Cold. Sunday, April 6, 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. 1445 Eglinton Ave W, by Eglinton W Subway

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

This piece is by Rayla, an incredible artist participating in the 15th annual Beth Sholom/Beth Tzedec Out of the Cold Art Showcase & Sale, featuring art created by guests who use our Out of the Cold. Sunday, April 6, 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. 1445 Eglinton Ave W, near Eglinton W Subway

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

So very proud of my dear friend & partner Rev. Jim Keenan @sparkleindark for being awarded the Charles 111 Coronation Medal for his outstanding efforts to fight food insecurity from @MarciIen @OOTC_StLukesTO @AlexaNGilmour

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

The Art Show features paintings of the guests of the Beth Sholom/Beth Tzedec Out of the Cold who form the Art Circle. These artists, receive 90% of the sale of their works. Prior to covid the artists earned close to $7,000 from the sale of their paintings. 1445 Eglinton Ave W.

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

This compassionate community initiative fights food insecurity by providing hot meals at Saint Luke's & through its outreach efforts to encampments & the clients of 3 OPSs/CTSs. This Out of the Cold operates 2x wk, 12 months a yr bc being unhoused & hungry isn't seasonal.

[Out of the Cold - Saint Luke's Toronto @OOTC_StLukesTO]

Are you passionate about providing care and support to the downtown East community? Are you good with details & logistics? Do you have a knack for creating * nurturing community partnerships?

We are hiring a part-time coordinator!

Full posting here: https://t.co/NHyaqAsZWy

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

This is incredible dangerous & poses great health risks. Bunk beds were in use @ St.Simons where 2 men died. https://t.co/tAchuWg7Di

[CathyCrowe @cathycrowe.bsky.social 🇨🇦 @cathyacrowe]

Yes, bunk beds are back. The conditions of respiratory and other infectious disease spread have not changed. In fact they worsen with crowding. Witness the current shigella outbreak in the inhoused population. A shelter should not resemble a kids camp.

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

https://t.co/SI623THCig

[Al (they/them)🍉 @TO_nuisance]

@RafiInterfaith @SHJNetwork @cathyacrowe @Diana_C_McNally @lorrainelamchop @MaggieHelwig Wait where’d you find this breakdown? All I can find is the budget presentation

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

These numbers are in millions. Millions of dollars that will criminalize the victims of failed housing policies, millions of dollars that will cause enormous suffering & ensure 3 to 5 unhoused deaths a week in Toronto.

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

T.O budget proposing $10,597.8 to expand encampment office & its clearing capacity. p. 14 $8,807 & p. 28 $1,790.8. These funds r needed urgently 4 more warming centres, shelters & yes - housing @SHJNetwork @cathyacrowe @Diana_C_McNally @lorrainelamchop @MaggieHelwig

[Shelter and Housing Justice Network @SHJNetwork]

The Infrastructure of Displacement keeps growing despite Toronto having a “progressive” mayor.

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

Yes these numbers are in millions. Millions of dollars that will criminalize the victims of failed housing policies, millions of dollars that will cause enormous suffering & ensure 3 to 5 unhoused deaths a week in Toronto.

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

.@MayorOliviaChow @ausmalik @BravoDavenport @shelleycarroll

[Gru @Gruesomebrat]

@RafiInterfaith @SHJNetwork @cathyacrowe @Diana_C_McNally @lorrainelamchop @MaggieHelwig A note: those figures are shown in $1000's...

Thus, $10.6M total: 8.8M on p. 14 for the encampment office, plus 1.8M on p. 28 for enhanced clearing capacity

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

.@MayorOliviaChow @ausmalik @BravoDavenport @shelleycarroll

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

T.O budget proposing $10,597.8 to expand encampment office & its clearing capacity. p. 14 $8,807 & p. 28 $1,790.8. These funds r needed urgently 4 more warming centres, shelters & yes - housing @SHJNetwork @cathyacrowe @Diana_C_McNally @lorrainelamchop @MaggieHelwig

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

Didn't have to be a life & death situation for every1. Ppl had shelter outside- in tents & the City cleared them BEFORE EXPANDING CAPACITY, so these ppl r completely exposed to the elements. Certain of 1 thing John Francisco who heads the Encampment Office is indoors 2night.

[Shelter and Housing Justice Network @SHJNetwork]

This Friday, Saturday & Sunday are going to be freezing cold. -24 with windchill on Sat. night. The warming centres are full. The city says it will open up an additional 240 spaces this week at the BLC. They must open it tomorrow. Hundreds are stuck outside.

[Out of the Cold - Saint Luke's Toronto @OOTC_StLukesTO]

The need continues to grow and we are committed to continuing our efforts to support the community through inside drop-in program, and our outreach efforts to various encampments and SCS’

Thank you to all of our volunteers and financial partners; we can’t do this without you!

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

@BravoDavenport you can save lives. The city has an extensive surveillance apparatus of those who are unhoused. City must have eyes on many community members forcibly evicted that we can't locate. If you can DM me locations we'll provide wellness checks, hot meals, food, clothing

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

Some of those ppl have disappeared. Encampment clearings are designed to remove unhoused people from public view, not to house them, & force ppl into remote locations where they're unseen & cut off from supports & vulnerable. The how the city gets its 3 to 5 unhoused deaths a wk

[Rafi Aaron @RafiInterfaith]

Some of those ppl have disappeared. Encampment clearings are designed to remove unhoused people from public view, not to house them, & force ppl into remote locations where they're unseen & cut off from supports & vulnerable. The how the city gets its 3 to 5 unhoused deaths a wk

[Alejandra Bravo @BravoDavenport]

Today, we also shared updates on winter services for people experiencing homelessness:

✅ 24-hour winter respite opens next week at Better Living Centre
✅200 more hours weekly of daytime drop-in programs
✅A new Warming Centre at Metro Hall
✅A new surge capacity Warming Centre