Housing crisis: Harsh reality of those navigating Toronto’s shelter system, on brink of homelessness
Jody Steinhauer runs a business, Bargains Group, and a charity, Engage and Change. Her business makes winter survival kits, while the charity is well-known for its annual program Project Winter Survival, which works with volunteers, businesses, front-line social agencies and homeless shelters to distribute the supplies to those in need. Seeing the homelessness crisis worsen over the years is what has motivated Steinhauer most to take matters into her own hands over the last two decades.
“Homelessness is way, way worse. And now there’s a bigger problem: there’s no shelter beds this season. People are sleeping in parks and encampments and the hotels that were there to help them are closing down. We’ve got an epidemic.”After loading dozens of winter survival kits into the van, Steinhauer and her team drive to their first stop at a Loblaws parking lot near St. Clair and Bathurst Street. It’s dark outside.
Social workers with an affiliated non-profit, Ve’ahavta, also arrive on scene to hand out food as the Engage and Change team gives out its winter survival kits. Moments after, the doors swing open, and people gravitate toward the vans and quickly form a line to receive the items.Among the group of people in the Loblaws parking lot is Robert, who is in his 60s. He is one of the first individuals who agree to do an interview with Global News.
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