Pope Squat

During the Pope's recent visit to Toronto, as Catholic youths
roamed the streets, waving nationalist flags and singing religious
songs behind Catholic banners and respective national colors another
banner appeared on the streets of Toronto, it called for social
housing for all and was carried by a diverse group of people
comprising the Ontario Coalition Against Povery (OCAP).
OCAP is a grass roots direct action social welfare group
dedicated to their motto, "Fight to Win!". They perform what is
known as "direct action case work" rather than rituals of the
stations of the Cross. They are not stuck behind a desk doing
welfare paperwork, rather when people are in need OCAP uses direct
action to obtain rights, benefits and sustenance. While the issue
of housing is not new to OCAP or the tactic of squatting this
particular direct action had significant meaning during the Pope's
visit to Toronto for Catholic World Youth Day, that had little
mention of the homeless youths of Toronto.
The action began in Mansiryk Park, asmall grove in the city's
working class Parkdale neighborhood as a free meal was offered
to any that needed or wanted it, a social breaking of the bread,
activists listened to the missal of the realities of street life
in a rapidly gentrified community. Members of OCAP recounted
the gospel of the street, Guittiene, an middle aged pepper bearded
man that has been very active in the gritty and gutsy Eastside,
delivered an liturgy of why the housing action and the demand
for social housing were essential. He recounted how a person
died alone in the wake of inadequate social support from the
city:
"George was found dead in his aprtment, he spent 2-3 days in
the streets, he received a letter from NORDSP which gauranteed
him a check, he was given a room based on this letter, but he
was kickedout of the welfare office without a check because of
the strike, he died seven days later."
He then went on to recount just a few of the people that have
been lost to the streets:
"Otto Vass we remember, Mark & Melanie we remember, Steve Dunn
& Ivan, we remember; we remember Steve Lovell who died in a cell
in 51 Police Division".
Another speaker represented the Labour interest in the housing
action, a convergence of labour and people's unions, Clarise
Cubin of CUPE 3903 spoke:
"Many Cupe locals are participating in squat throughout the province...not
because it's the right thing to do...but because the fight for
affordable housing is part of the fight for increased minimum
wage, the fight for welfare, the fight to stop deportation, that's
why CUPE locals are participating this weekend."
She also noted:
"2000 peple eviceted each month, out of those 2-4 die on the
streets per week in Toronto"

Tragically the social housing situation in Toronto continues
to grow worse in the midst of gentrification and the privatization
of social programs under the Tory government of Ernie Eves. Sean
Brandt a First Nations representative from the Mohawk Nation
and dedicated OCAP organizer recounted how the very park that
the rally took place in had also been a home to human tragedy:

"This place has more significance then being ancestral land of
this nation or the other this park was a home to our brother. How he ended up in the streets
was he worked his whole life. His wife became ill with
Cancer, he sold his house moved to Toronto from the reservation
and took care of her until she died and when she finally passed
he had no money left."

As he ended the biography he soon led all gathered at the park
onto the evening traffic laden roads of the Parkdale community.
Police intimidation is fairly comon at OCAP events, witness the
Queen's Park "riot", however with the Pope in town the police
chose a refrained approach as no riot police were seen on the
streets. Hundreds marched through the streets of Parkdale, occassionally
bystanders would jump in or applaud from the sidewalks as people
in the streets chaned "Give it or Guard it". Finally, the activists
reached the squat as the crowd approached a large OCAP banner
was unfurled from a weathered brown and white townhouse that
was formerly owned by a now defunct corporation. The taxes on
the house have not been paid in ten years, thus making ownership
of the residence unknown. Sarah Vance of OCAP explains the situation:

"We operate by a principle of use it or lose it, make it avaliable
to social housing or lose it. The issue is that it's the city
and province that have resources and aren't using them... Parkdale
is a gentrified neighborhood. There are losta boarding houses,
these boarding houses are owned by corporations, when they are
ready to tear down the building and build condos all they do
is evict everyone, poor working class people."

As people continued to gather by the house a bullhorn was aimed
out of a window from the third floor squattors began to read
of complaints and demands to city officials and the supporters
of the squat:

"this country consistently failed the poor. Housing is a right.
In Toronto, people are evicted everymonth...people working 40
hours a week on minimum wage that is not livable"

"this is an action about the real conditions of living in Toronto.
This is about the people pulling together to create housing that
the politicians won't give."

"we know what it is like to pay $400, $500 dollars for a cockroache
infested room in a neighborhood like this one"

"the government won't build social housing we have no choice
but to take it for ourselves. we have taken this building to
turn it into social housing".

Later, several journalist spoke with Sarah Vance as corporate
media from CityTV, Global and others chimed in with provocative
questions. A glossy talking head asks, "What is the Issue?".
To which Sarah calmly replies, well used to the glossy talking
head questions, "we are not interested in this being a police
issue, we have brought legitimate demands, we want Mel Lastman
and Ernie Eves to address these demands." Another reporter elbows
for space with another question that misses the mark with the
obvious meaning of the housing action, "Are you looking for a
confrontation with the police?". Again Sarah, calmly points out
the facts, "we are not creating a confrontation, it's the city's
call if they want to call the cops in and bash heads". Just then
the issue was brought forth into the light of reality as an elderly
homeless woman approached Sarah. A short dialogue develops between
Sarah and the Homeless Woman:
Her sagging eyes plead the demand, "I need housing."
Sarah explains the status of the house, "it's abandoned, the
city and the province need to step in and turn this into social
housing." To which the Homeless Woman exclaims, "That's not happening!".
Sarah courteously explains that that is what the housing action
is about and that she can stay at the squat if she would like.


Since the squat opened two nights ago. Only one police incursion
has occurred at the squat on the allegation that a hand gun was
in the squat, to which after searching no weapons were found
in the squat. The atmosphere at the squat is one of communal
joy as working people from unions, artists, activist and squattors
continue to rebuild the abandoned building, a guerilla garden
has been planted and music and festivities pepper the days at
the squat. When the Pope leaves on Monday many anticipate that
the squat will be broken up by the strong arm of the law on Mayor
Mel Lastman's orders.