Sadly, the time has come to expand the Homeless Memorial Home Page. The list of homeless deaths on the main page is getting too long and I've had to expand it to this page. How long does this list have to get before politicans start waking up and smelling the stench of death that permeates this city? We have a disaster on our hands and nothing is being done about it. We need Let's work together to put this website out of business. Please be patient while I build this page.
As the list of homeless deaths gets longer, as I know it will, I will add them to this page. I long for the day when I won't need to add any more names because every homeless person is housed. What can you do to make that day come faster?
One way you can help is by joining the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee (TDRC) They are one of the front-runners in the fight against homelessness.The Toronto Disaster Relief Committee is now engaged in a new campaign called Housing, Not War. The next meeting will be on Thursday, May 15/2008, at Central Neighbourhood House at 349 Ontario Street, near Sherbourne. The meeting starts at 6:30 PM.
Our regular monthly homeless memorial vigil will be held on Tuesday, May 13/2008 at 12 noon outside the Church of the Holy Trinity. At this vigil, we will remember all those who have lived on the streets of Toronto and died as a direct result of homelessness. A free meal will follow the vigil. The church is located behind the Eaton Centre in Trinity Square.
Join us in saying "NO MORE DEATHS!".
As a part of the Homeless Memorial Vigils, I meet once a month with Sherman Hasselman, the new Incumbent Minister of Holy Trinity Church to write litanies and poems for the next Memorial, then I put these litanies and poems up on the website. This is the poem that we used on October 14/2008. We wrote this one on September 30/2008. I will be having lunch with Sherman from now on.
Many people sat down with family and friends
For turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy,
Cranberries, vegetables, and pumpkin pie,
But to a homeless person, it was just another cold day on the street.
What do the homeless give thanks for?
Living another day
Having enough layers to stay warm as the weather gets colder
That there are some drop-ins to help
That, occasionally, a kind person will give them a meal or some money
And some are thankful for the companionship of a pet.
What do the homeless WISH they could be thankful for?
Some wish they had a job
And safe, warm affordable housing
With a fridge and some food to put in it,
And a stove to cook it on,
And a door to lock the world out.
Some wish they had a community to be a part of
Others wish they didn't have to only look out for themselves
And the stressfulness of the street.
Will Thanksgiving a year from now look any different for us?
--- Bonnie Briggs with Sherman Hesselgrave (10/08)
This is the poem we wrote for the Memorial on September 9/2008. We wrote it on September 2/2008.
With the arrival of autumn,
There are a few things the homeless
Don't have to worry about (thank God!)--
For example, they don't have to close down the cottage,
Drain the pool, get the car ready for winter,
Or book airline tickets to the Bahamas.
But they DO have to start to figure out
Where to stay when the weather gets cold
Where they're going to get warm clothes
For the kids and themselves.
Since they can't sleep in the parks
They have to find ways to avoid tangling with police
Or having their belongings burned.
They are asking themselves
“Will I be able to get housing this year?”
“Will I be forced into the streets-to-homes
Project and end up in a crummy place
In the Middle-of-Nowhere, Ontario?”
“Is someone going to try take my pets away?”
“Will we make it to next spring alive?”
The changing colours of the leaves
Look beautiful on a greeting card,
But to the homeless, they're like last call
Before life takes the hard turn towards winter.
--Bonnie Briggs with Sherman Hesselgrave
Here is the continuation of the list of homeless deaths. These are people who were homeless and died as a direct result of that homelessness in Toronto. We have to put an end to this list. The Expanded Homeless Memorial Home Page
Updated on October 20/2008
Homeless Thanksgiving
HOMELESS AUTUMN
STOP HARASSING HOMELESS PEOPLE AND BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING NOW!!
