Pandemic has forced massive reorganization of Toronto homeless into 'tent cities'
Chris Young/The Canadian Press
A recent heat wave is the latest challenge facing those living on the streets of Canada’s most populous city, following COVID-19 outbreaks in the shelter system.Environment Canada has issued several heat warnings for parts of Ontario in recent weeks, and daytime highs in Toronto have been in the 30s for more than a week straight.
May of the usual supports for the homeless – including bathrooms in coffee shops and restaurants, and drop-in centres – have collapsed since the province went into lockdown. While many businesses have since reopened, many public restrooms remain shuttered. Baratta’s sister, Nancy Fisher, found herself living in a tent recently after her partner kicked her out of their home. She said she also lost her job as a harm-reduction worker because she was exposed to COVID-19. Her daughter had a drug relapse and caught the novel coronavirus, so Fisher said she had to help take care of her two-month-old grandchild.
Since the pandemic began, 628 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in cases linked to shelter outbreaks, according to city data. Four of those people have died, and there are 28 active cases.
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