Securing Emergency Shelter for Refugees - by Councillor Josh Matlow, seconded by Councillor Jamaal Myers

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The decision

2023-06-14 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on June 14 and 15, 2023, adopted the following: 1. City Council advise the Government of Canada of the increasing demand on the municipally-funded shelter system for asylum seekers. 2. City Council urge the Government of Canada to work with the Ethiopian Association of Greater Toronto as well as other refugee settlement and advocacy organizations and external partners to provide shelter to refugee claimants.

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3. City Council urge the Government of Canada to allocate funding in the Federal Budget 2023 for "Temporary Lodgings for Asylum Seekers in Need of Shelter" to help refugees in the Toronto Region seeking safe shelter. 4. City Council support the work underway by City staff advocating for the Government of Canada to identify the most appropriate Federal services and funding available to meet the needs of asylum seekers and refugee claimants in their settlement process.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

As a result of the City's decision to no longer allow refugee claimants into our core shelter system, as well as an ongoing lack of Federal funding, there remain large groups of refugees in the Toronto area who are unhoused. Many in this group have been accepted by welcoming families and organizations, but may soon be relocated to Montreal if housing is not found. This Motion requests that an emergency plan is developed so that every Torontonian, regardless of status is able to access safe shelter.

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This Motion is urgent because many refugee claimants are currently experiencing homelessness and may soon need to be relocated.

Staff recommended

Councillor Josh Matlow, seconded by Councillor Jamaal Myers, recommends that: 1. City Council request the General Manager, Shelter Support and Housing Administration to work with the Ethiopian Association of Greater Toronto as well as other refugee settlement and advocacy organizations and external partners to provide any possible form of shelter on an emergency basis to refugee claimants in the City of Toronto.

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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