Sanctuary

“As FIFA fever sweeps Toronto, unhoused residents and advocates say a much darker story is emerging impacting the city’s most vulnerable.

The Toronto Underhoused and Homeless Union (TUHU) alleges residents experiencing homelessness are reporting forced removals, intimidation, verbal abuse and violence linked to increased enforcement and public space management efforts. The group says concerns are growing that visibly poor and unhoused people are being pushed out ahead of FIFA-related activity in the city.

“Union Station isn’t a safe consumption site, but it is a safe place for us to be together, to look out for one another,” said Crystofur an unhoused Toronto resident…

The group points to what it calls an alarming increase in violence inside washrooms and enclosed spaces. Organizers shared photos from the men’s washroom at Union GO Station tied to one account alleging a man was dragged from a bathroom stall by security while his pants were still around his ankles and left outside.”

📸 Simon Beairsto