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Historic Number of Toronto Faith Leaders Sign Statement to Fight Homelessness

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• 3 min read
Historic Number of Toronto Faith Leaders Sign Statement to Fight Homelessness

HISTORIC NUMBER OF CLERGY AND FAITH ASSOCIATIONS SIGN THE INTERFAITH COALITION TO FIGHT HOMELESSNESS’S STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR COUNCILLOR CRESSY’S NEW SHELTER

In a press conference at City Hall, on Thursday, February 15, 2018, a historic number of clergy, and faith associations signed The Interfaith Coalition to Fight Homelessness’s statement of support for Councillor Joe Cressy’s new shelter at 348 Davenport Rd. The 23 signatories are the largest number of clergy and religious institutions to ever support a shelter in Toronto. They include: 15 places of worship in Ward 20, 2 Anglican Bishops with jurisdiction in the Ward, and 6 faith associations from the GTA (see complete list below).

THE INTERFAITH COALITION TO FIGHT HOMELESSNESS’S STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR COUNCILLOR CRESSY’S NEW SHELTER AT 348 DAVENPORT RD.

We the undersigned religious leaders from places of worship in Ward 20, along with religious associations in the GTA, emphatically support Councillor Cressy’s initiative for a new permanent shelter at 348 Davenport Rd.

This shelter will provide a clean, modern, and spacious residence for 90 people in need. It will offer an array of medical and social services on site that will help its guests transition into housing. Most importantly it will provide them with a dignified place to live throughout this process.

The shelter crisis, and the epidemic of homeless deaths in our City have been years in the making. We have neglected the most marginalized for too long. In order to reverse these alarming trends we need to make drastic changes in the way we think about housing the homeless. This new approach will see many more shelters like the one at 348 Davenport Rd. throughout Toronto. We encourage other Councillors to follow Councillor Cressy’s lead and open permanent shelters in their wards. We promise them the support of clergy, congregants and communities.

We know we can combat homelessness. We know we can create an inclusive and just City. Councillor Cressy’s initiative is a major step forward in achieving these goals.

  • The Right Reverend Jenny Andison, Area Bishop of York-Credit Valley, Anglican Diocese of Toronto
  • Santo Arrigo, C.Ss.R., Pastor, St. Patrick’s Church
  • John Boutros, St. Moses & St. Katherine Coptic Orthodox Church
  • Rev. Peter Chin, C.Ss.R., Pastor and Administrator, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
  • Dr. Cheri Di Novo, Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church
  • Wendell Gibbs, First Baptist Church
  • The Reverend David Giffen, Church of the Redeemer
  • The Reverend David Harrison, Church of St Mary Magdalene
  • Rev’d Maggie Helwig, Church of St Stephen-in-the-Fields (Anglican)
  • Christopher Levan, Minister, College Street United Church
  • Rabbi Aaron Levy, Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism
  • The Reverend Tay Moss, Church of the Messiah
  • Fr. Peter Turrone PhD, Pastor and Executive Director, Newman Centre & St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church at The University of Toronto
  • The Reverend Elaine Poproski, Walmer Road Baptist Church
  • The Right Reverend Kevin Robertson, Area Bishop of York-Scarborough, Anglican Diocese of Toronto
  • Dr. Martha ter Kuile, Minister, Bloor Street United Church
  • Avi Schonback & Hart Schwartz, Co-Presidents the Board of Governors, The First Narayever Congregation

FAITH ASSOCIATONS

  • Rafi Aaron, Spokesperson, The Interfaith Coalition to Fight Homelessness
  • Barbara Boraks, Executive Director, Christian Jewish Dialogue of Toronto
  • Barbara Landau, Co-Chair, Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims
  • Muneeb Nasir, Co-Chair, National Muslim Christian Liaison Committee
  • Imam Wael Shehab PhD, Imam of Masjid Toronto, Muslim Association of Canada (MAC)
  • Rev. Dr. Cameron Watts, Co-Chair, Faith In The City