TORONTO, Sept. 22 /CNW/ -DATE: Tuesday, September 23
TIME: 12:00 pm. - Lunch
1:00 pm.- Candidates' Statements
PLACE: Woodgreen Community Centre,
835 Queen Street East (east of Broadview Ave)The Homelessness Response Alliance (HRA), a Toronto-based network of
non-profit organizations dedicated to helping people struggling with
homelessness, is hosting a public Federal Election Housing Forum on September
23, 2008. This event will be attended by some 300 people from across the city
- those working with people experiencing homelessness and other poverty
related issues, and people who have experienced homelessness directly. The
purpose of this meeting is to call on all federal parties to make housing a
priority and to make firm commitments to reduce and prevent homelessness.
There will also be information shared on how people with no fixed address can
exercise their right to vote.
The Forum will start with a traditional First Nations meal at noon. At
1:00 pm Federal Candidates will be introduced and will have an opportunity to
outline their housing and homelessness platforms, followed by questions and
comments from members of the Homelessness Response Alliance (HRA) and others
attending the Forum.Candidates and Party representatives confirmed to date:
(Conservative Party of Canada - not yet confirmed)
Green Party of Canada -Sharon Howarth
Liberal party of Canada -Andrew Lang
New Democratic Party of Canada - Marilyn ChurleyIn 2007, a United Nations review described the housing and homelessness
situation in Canada as a national emergency. Current estimates indicate that
300,000 Canadians are homeless or at risk for homelessness. Youth, people with
mental illness, and First Nations people are at greater risk to experience
homelessness.
For further information: Sandy Birnie, Executive Director of Youthlink:
(416) 967-1733 x 214; Holly Kramer, Coordinator: Toronto Harm Reduction Task
Force: (647)-222-4420
