The Metropolis of Toronto has despatched a stop and desist letter to a person who’s constructed a number of tiny cellular houses giving non permanent shelter to these experiencing homelessness, ordering him to take away them from metropolis property.
Ryan Donais began constructing the small modular houses final summer season, later registering his personal non-profit group, Tiny Tiny Properties, to assist create extra.
Not wanting his initiative to get shut down by the town, Donais says he designed the houses with a number of security options, resembling smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and a hearth extinguisher. They are often connected to the again of a bicycle and transported to different places.
Final Friday, Donais acquired a letter from metropolis attorneys informing him that the constructions have been “unlawfully occupying” metropolis property and violated municipal code.
“We acknowledge and respect that you’re appearing with good intentions,” the letter says.
“Nonetheless, the Metropolis doesn’t condone and can’t allow the set up of those constructions for occupation on Metropolis property.”
Based on the letter, the constructions — most of that are situated in St. James Park — intervene with the general public’s proper to make use of and entry metropolis parks. The constructions additionally current well being and security issues, the letter says.
It says the town is ordering Donais and Tiny Tiny Properties to cease putting in the constructions and to take away them.
Donais mentioned he was shocked by the letter, and that it arrived the week after he’d met with officers to debate the houses, discussions he says he thought had been optimistic.
“It sort of damage our hearts,” Donais mentioned.
Previous to that assembly, he mentioned he’d been attempting to get in contact with metropolis officers, looking for an accredited area to place the constructions.
“We’re solely right here due to their failure of motion. Give us a spot to place them, and let’s get them out of the park,” Donais mentioned.
A spokesperson for the town mentioned that in that assembly, officers knowledgeable Donais that the constructions aren’t allowed in metropolis parks .
“Whereas the town might think about micro shelters in future initiatives, they’re at present not permitted on any city-owned properties in Toronto,” the spokesperson mentioned.
Tiny Tiny Properties responded to the cease-and-desist in a letter Wednesday, arguing that that the shelters are cellular and are not put in in any set place. The letter additionally says Tiny Tiny Properties will not assemble any extra shelters “till we’ve resolved this.”
‘Peace of thoughts’
Brent Blake has been residing in one of many shelters for about three weeks. He mentioned the shelter has given him a protected place to dwell whereas dealing with throat most cancers and ready for sponsored housing.
“It provides you peace of thoughts. You are not questioning the place you are going to go,” mentioned Blake, who’s been experiencing homelessness on and off for years.
Blake says he thinks the town is mistaken to order Tiny Tiny Properties to cease what they’re doing, when the town cannot discover locations to dwell for everybody who’s in want of housing.
“Why not let organizations begin doing it? As a result of they cannot do it,” Blake mentioned.
A Toronto man who began constructing small shelters for these in want gave somebody a brand new place to dwell at this time. As Naama Weingarten reviews, whereas unhoused folks respect his efforts, he needs he by no means needed to construct the houses.
Non-profit must observe bylaws: councillor
Coun. Chris Moise, who represents the Toronto Centre driving the place the shelters are situated, mentioned he put ahead a movement final yr asking metropolis workers to look into areas for the moveable modular houses.
Nonetheless, he mentioned he is involved that Tiny Tiny Holmes has been arbitrarily inserting the shelters with out going via correct channels. He mentioned he is acquired complaints from space residents in regards to the shelters, notably as a result of they’re heated utilizing diesel fuel.
“I simply discover that, you understand, it is well-intentioned, however that is not the way in which we perform within the metropolis,” Mois mentioned.
“We’ve by legal guidelines that we should all abide by, together with myself as a neighborhood councillor. We simply cannot arbitrarily simply do what we would like.”
Moise mentioned he wasn’t conscious of the stop and desist letter, however hopes Tiny Tiny Properties can work with the town “slightly than working round us.”
On Thursday, Donais mentioned his group is determining its subsequent steps, however he hopes they will work one thing out with the town.
“We’d like our parks again and we want these susceptible residents to have a greater, safer place for housing,” he mentioned.
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