Despite receiving a trespass notice from the City of Toronto instructing them to vacate by Tuesday, some individuals experiencing homelessness at Dufferin Grove Park are choosing to remain at the encampment.
The notice, issued last Friday, cited city bylaws prohibiting tents and dwellings in the park and directed residents to clear out their belongings, including tents and shelters, by 9 a.m. on Sept. 16.
One resident, Cece Bella Cohen, expressed a preference for staying at the camp over Toronto shelters, stating, “I’d rather sleep out here until I can find a proper place.” Cohen, who has been at Dufferin Grove Park for approximately three months after a decade of navigating the shelter system, shared that her experience at the park has been more positive, a sentiment echoed by other encampment residents.
A statement released by encampment residents and supporters highlighted various concerns regarding Toronto shelters, including poor sanitation, lack of privacy, and a high turnover rate that leads clients back onto the streets.
City Emphasizes Last Resort Evictions
City officials, including spokesperson Eric Holmes, were present at the encampment on Tuesday conducting outreach efforts to persuade residents to transition to indoor shelters. Security personnel and police were visible in surrounding areas of the park.
Holmes emphasized that the city’s primary focus is on encouraging residents to move into indoor housing through outreach initiatives. He emphasized that physical evictions would only occur as a “last resort.”
In recent years, Toronto has witnessed a significant increase in its homeless population, with numbers surpassing 15,400 individuals as of October 2024, according to the city’s 2024 Street Needs Assessment Survey.
In February, the city initiated an “enhanced outreach model” at the Dufferin Grove Park encampment aimed at gradually relocating residents to shelters. Mayor Olivia Chow noted that daily outreach efforts have resulted in 56 individuals being moved to indoor housing from Dufferin Grove Park.
Addressing safety concerns at shelters, Mayor Chow reassured that safety protocols are in place, and non-profit organizations offer various programs to assist clients in areas such as education, employment, and mental health resources.
Chow emphasized the importance of utilizing available shelter spaces, stating, “If you are out in the open, at camp
