ZACK RUSSELL: Uh, I'm gonna record now.

TAKA: Okay.

Um, voice only, not, not picture.

RUSSELL: Okay.

Because?

TAKA: Maybe because I have nothing left.

The last would be my image, and I want to keep it.

RUSSELL (softly): Okay.

TAKA: My name is Taka, T-A-K-A.

I am 58 years old.

RUSSELL: Do you remember just, like, meeting me and when, what, when that all happened?

TAKA: Vividly.

It was Tuesday.

Tuesday around noon.

I was third day on the street, and it was really cold, so I didn't quite slept and I didn't have much energy.

So I went to hospital to get a jacket and ask about assisted suicide.

(laughing) I said, "Preferably today, "because I'm suffering and it's too cold, "and my system is too strong, "so there is gonna be long and painful death.

(chuckling): "Can you shorten it?

I'm conscious, I'm, I'm..." There's no emotions about it, right?

They said, "No, first you have to get a doctor.

"It's such a lengthy process "that you probably will die out waiting for it.

(chuckling) "'Cause now you have to get back into the system, get yourself a family doctor, and start from scratch."

I said, "Give me a jacket, bye."

So I went in shelter, but there was no room for me.

But they gave me good sleeping bag.

So here I have two possessions now, right?

My chances on survival increasing.

So I decided to wait and I slept on the bench.

(laughing) Woken up in the morning covered with snow.

(laughing) My boots, you know.

(laughing) Possessions.

(laughing) And I saw you, and approached you, asked you about the tent.

And then guys showed up with the tent.

So I went in a tent, lived there for eight days, and on the ninth day, box.

(laughs) That was alluring.

The house that built Khaleel.

♪ ♪ (car engine running) - Yeah, we dropped another shelter off yesterday.

Whew!

But, um, did get a complaint from the neighbors.

So now we can't have the garage open while we're building.

(laughing): So everyone has to be in there.

So it's gonna be, yeah, a little tight.

(bangs loudly) (gasps softly) Oh, man, I just smashed my head.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (nail gun firing) (saw grinding) (firing) ♪ ♪ (people talking in background) (tool buzzing) (stapler punching) (beeps loudly) (reverse signal beeping) REPORTER: Well, the pandemic has had an impact on all Canadians, but it's hit thos on a low income especially hard.

There's now a growing concern that the number of homeless people in Canada may go up.

REPORTER: The City of Toronto tells us they are currently providing shelter to more than 7,500 people each night.

But according to the latest city data, many of these shelters are at over 99% capacity, including warming centers.

MAN: I had to turn away 12 women into the cold because there was nothing left in the system.

No violence-against-women's spaces, no homeless shelter spaces.

All I could do was give them a blanket and ask them to stay somewhere close by.

♪ ♪ SEIVWRIGHT: You know, waiting for the cops to show up and be, like, "What the (muted) are you doing?"

Yeah, that's my worst concern every time I come through.

♪ ♪ TONY: Can you push it over the hump?

Whoo!

Okay.

Oh, I think one of the wheels isn't gonna turn.

TAKA: It was solution I never thought about.

When you explained how it works, that it uses my body temperature.

(gasps): Oh.

So now I'm in the game.

I'm the heating device, right?

I'm the one who makes this adobe a home, because I work for both.

I heat up place and myself, right?

RUSSELL: Do you remember the first night?

TAKA: Yep.

Mm, I was overly excited.

(inhales): Uh... Second night was quiet.

Third, I warmed up myself and the house.

I was hot.

♪ ♪ (dog barking in distance) (saw buzzing) (saw buzzing) (saw stops) (jazz music playing on radio) (music stops, stapler punching) SEIVWRIGHT: Whoo.

I'm tired.

(laughing) BRADY: Dude, I saw you on CBC!

(Seivwright laughs) BRADY: We were gonna, like, try and reach out to you about the tiny houses.

SEIVWRIGHT: That's really cool.

BRADY: That's awesome.

Our city is in crisis right now with the amount of homelessness, and... - But we got lots of, lots of places they can stay, though.

They just don't want to.

SEIVWRIGHT: Yeah, some people don't want to.

- Yeah, but there's also a pandemic happening, and those, like, the services aren't, you know... - Yeah.

- Have you looked inside one of those homeless shelters?

They're very tough.

- Not the homeless shelters.

They want to give them hotels, actual hotels-- spare, spare rooms and everything else.

- That's great.

SEIVWRIGHT: There's certain, there's certain conditions with it, as well.

TONY: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm sure there is.

(audio distorting, voices echoing) ♪ ♪ TAKA: Shelter is nothing... (laughing): ...that they talk about.

"People there are safe and everybody's doing nice."

Not at all.

It's a sewer.

You will never have a full sleep.

You will be awoken three, five times at night.

When the environment became extremely hostile, then the whole totality of you awakens.

You're under threat.

Alert, constant alert.

You're counting everything, you know everybody's move.

Survival at stake.

(tool banging) (saw buzzing) (saw stops) (saw resumes) (saw stops) (cellphone chimes) - "Partnership discussion."

"I work at the City of Toronto and have been following "your progress and story since October 2.

"I'm very happy to hear the outpouring of support "for people who are living outside.

"You're inspiring a lot of people.

"I'd like to have a meeting with you "and be able to discuss the possibility of a partnership.

"The city has some problems, and you're obviously very innovative."

Word.

City of Toronto, first response.

(laughing) It's, like, "Let's work together."

(laughs): That's interesting.

I feel so much less stress.

Wow.

RUSSELL: I mean, it's, seems good that they're reaching out.

- Like, for the first time.

RUSSELL: Like... - (laughing) RUSSELL: It means that they're really paying attention, I gather.

SEIVWRIGHT: If it's, like, negative-ten, negative-15, like, you're gonna want a consistent heat source unless you're going to be somewhere that's warm.

And I guess the shelters that I'm building, these are, these are designed to be heated by your body.

It's, like, they will have somewhere that's consistently warm.

(cellphone chimes) ♪ ♪ (groans) WOMAN: Just look right here.

SEIVWRIGHT: Mm-hmm.

(camera shutter clicks) SEIVWRIGHT: "The City of Toronto therefore demands "that you immediately cease the production, "distribution, supply, and installation of such shelters on city property."

REPORTER: The city didn't respond to requests for comment from CBC News.

Its letter did say if the shelters remain on public property, legal action could be taken.

- It's been surprise, considering they sent me an earlier email discussing a partnership, but I understand that there's quite a bit of disconnection between different departments in the City of Toronto.

- I've always opposed this kind of structure or solution, and in, in the last month, I've done a complete 360, because I really feel the city is failing drastically and that this is a life-saving measure.

WOMAN: Lastly, I just want to ask, why are you doing this?

REPORTER (on speakerphone): You mentioned how, you know, part of the reason why you do what you do, or at least feel motivated to do that, is because you've experienced homelessness to some degree yourself.

And I was wondering if you would be comfortable talking more about that.

SEIVWRIGHT: I stayed in this tent for five months during the winter of, of Vancouver, in Vancouver, and yeah, it was interesting.

It was just, it was just something I'd, I never did before, and it was just surprising, the challenges that sort of came up that I didn't really anticipate, and, and just, yeah, living.

Just finding a way to live, and still work, and save money.

I, I figured I'd be able to do it in a fashion that I was comfortable enough to do, but it was one of the most challenging things I've ever did-- I've ever done.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ - Huh.

(grunts loudly) ♪ ♪ WOMAN: The city is under an extreme cold weather alert, so this cold air really taking over here in Southern Ontario, and it's going to stick around for a while.

Let's take a look at the satellite radar.

Current temperatures across Southern Ontario.

My goodness, we are sitting in those minus double digits, and we are going to stay there not just for the next couple of days, but really the models are showing the next few weeks, and next weekend is going to be even more... (audio fades) ♪ ♪ MAN: Here?

SEIVWRIGHT: Mm-hmm.

It was down this little path.

I literally carried all the sheets of plywood, everything, and just, all the 2-by-6, and I was just walking like this.

And then the generator, all the tools, everything.

And this is, uh, the very first one I built.

Yeah, they put a notice on it.

So this is, uh, how we communicate.

This is how we communicate now.

"Trespass notice."

These are the handles I've been putting on.

Hello?

Yeah, someone's been using it.

That's amazing.

That's (muted) cool.

And they've been painting.

(door pushes in) I'm happy about that.

There's no latch or lock or anything on it.

They could be coming back.

Cool.

(laughs): Good news.

TAKA: So today is 25th day I'm in the park.

From a shelter for 90 people to a separate room, right?

For the first time in this house, I have what I never had in entire life.

Loneness, my own space.

And if I am not here, going where?

Back into the system, where I gonna be swarmed again?

I never been to a shelter where I felt as good as I felt in this house.

It's my refuge.

You're talking to a refugee.

REPORTER (on radio): Let's move on to a story about a man that we had on the show at 4:45 this afternoon.

He's a carpenter.

His name's Khaleel Seivwright.

And he's the guy who built some Toronto tiny shelters.

These are places for people with no housing to be comfortable during the cold weather.

He's built some in city parks.

He's done a GoFundMe for this.

It's been overwhelming, the support that he's got.

He was on the show today, and he said that he heard from the City twice.

The first time he heard from the City was saying, "What a great idea.

Maybe we can do some type of partnership."

And then he said the second correspondence that he got in the form of an email was telling him, you know, to basically cease and desist.

And if he didn't, he'd be then charged with the cost for tearing down these structures.

I'm wondering if this, if this story came across your desk and what your thoughts were.

TORY: Yes, and look, we are seized of the homelessness issue.

We've already been successful at moving 1,100 people out of encampments, which I think most people find to be not a safe or a proper answer, into permanent housing or alternative housing.

There's about 400 people left in encampments.

And what is proposed here is to build these structures-- which the fire department, not me and not the activists.

I mean, if I had a choice between advocates, as much as I respect the role they play, and the fire department in telling us what's safe and what isn't, they say these structures are made out of very unsafe material.

It's very flammable.

Now, the second thing that has, that, that is clear is, they're not going to be ideal from the standpoint of other kinds of safety and, and sanitation issues, because they're little, yo know, little structures that... And then the third issue is whether or not it is going to be just deemed acceptable for us to be having those put up in parks where people choose to put those kinds of things up.

SEIVWRIGHT: So how has staying in the tiny shelter made a difference for you?

- It's warmer.

Yes.

It's like...

I just feel...

It's, like, I feel the floor is better than the tent, you know?

The, the feeling is just all...

The whole feeling is better than I thought, you know?

At the beginning, I thought, maybe it's no fresh air or something, but actually, it's, it's quite good.

Mm-hmm.

- When I first got here, I used to wake up shivering in the middle of the night.

Every few hours, have to go around and walk for, like, however long, until I got my body heat back up just to fall asleep again and wake up cold again.

I have not had a single night shivering in this house.

Every night, I sleep like a baby.

(chuckles): And ever since...

So I, I have problems with, um, psychosis and things like that when I stop sleeping, and when I'm under immense amounts of stress and all the rest of it, and when I have this place, all my stress started to go down.

I've been getting back into a routine.

I've been sleeping solid hours every single night, going to bed, waking up, and I just feel more healthy, more like I just can actually have a life and a routine, and not always having to feel like I have to fight for my life.

- Like, I've, I haven't always lived homeless, so I know what it's like to, like, to own property and stuff, and it's a lot of work, it's, there's... People think, like, people that have got all this money and whatnot, their big houses, and they don't do nothing, like, but really, it's a lot of work to take care of that stuff.

And, like, even though it's small, it's a small version of that, it's my small version of it, and I feel the same way about it, you know, so I, like, find myself, like, cleaning up the yard, and, like, like, just making little improvements here and there and decorating, and, you know?

And just, just makes you feel more normal.

- This is all I own.

This is all I have, but this is my home, and I'm in a great country that I love.

And I've been under the circumstances of COVID and pandemic.

This is my shelter box, this is where I am, and this is what I have and this is good.

It's the best thing that has ever happened, because it's safe.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (explosion bursts) REPORTER: Bright flames beside her condo complex near Dundas West and Bathurst.

A tent in the homeless encampment at Alexandra Park was on fire.

RUSSELL: Do you want to just tell us where you live and... VALENTINA: I live right beside Alexandra Park, at Bathurst and Dundas, and I've been a resident there since November 2019.

It was 1:00 in the morning, I was trying to fall asleep, and it was a bunch of partying and music playing, and then I thought, "Oh, my God.

They're, now they're doing fireworks?

Really?"

I look out of the window, and a whole tent was on fire, and there were things inside the tent that were exploding.

After that, the owners and residents at the complex, we all just started to report fires or anything close to a fire, 'cause we were just all freaked out.

It was a rude awakening for me just to realize that we're not safe at all.

Like, we're not safe at all.

♪ ♪ SEIVWRIGHT: They removed one.

RUSSELL: Yeah.

- (sighs): Do you know where from?

RUSSELL: Yeah.

- Where?

RUSSELL: Victoria Park.

SEIVWRIGHT: They took it!

(sighs) And they're just taking it to a (muted) landfill.

- So, good morning, everyone.

I'd like to call this meeting to order.

My name is Michael Thompson, councilor, and I am the chair of the economic and community development committee.

(on laptop speaker): I'd like to welcome all the members of committee and also members of the public.

We currently have, for this meeting today, in excess of 70 speakers on items.

I will keep the speakers' list open, Madam Clerk, until about 10:30, and we will close it off at that particular time.

- That's hectic.

This is gonna be so long.

WOMAN (on laptop speaker): ...append this amendment to the blanket contract number 47022687 issued to Mister Chemical Limited for the provision of housekeeping and laundry chemicals to long-term care homes.

- (softly): I ask that city council step in and direct Parks and Recreation... THOMPSON: All right, folks.

We're, uh, gonna get starte very shortly, so, Madam Clerk... - Let's go, let's go.

(organ playing) (meeting continues on laptop) THOMPSON: Next item is EC18.4, COVID-19 response and accessibility, parks, forestry, and recreation programs.

Our next speaker is Khaleel Seivwright.

You have five minutes.

SEIVWRIGHT: Um, thank you.

Um, hey, my name's Khaleel Seivwright.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak here at this meeting.

On November 19, I received a letter from Parks and Recreation manager Janie Romoff threatening the removal of tiny shelters that are currently being used by people living in parks.

And I ask that the city council step in and direct Parks and Recreation to support this initiative and help me make Toronto's parks accessible for all people living in our city.

The most immediate and direct way I think city council can support this initiative is by issuing a moratorium on municipal bylaw chapter 608, section 13 and 14.

Again, I think there's a lack of awareness about the safety, design, and functionality of these shelters.

So I'll take a moment to reiterate and also talk about them.

I'd like to mention, as well, that there has been a document made public for my deputation showing 49,000 people have signed a petition agreeing that there should be a moratorium on these same bylaws for the safety of those living in encampments.

Thank you.

THOMPSON: Let me see whether or not there are any questions of you.

I see none.

- (groans) I was, like, still swallowing food.

THOMPSON: I'm just wondering whether or not Fire has had an opportunity to maybe take a look at those units, and if so, what exactly is the thought, consideration of Fire with respect to these units?

Are they fire-safe?

JESSOP: ...especially after the year we have had wit the number of encampment fires, is that these, these structures that, that are being constructed are, are not safe and they are, and they are not designed for people to live in them in the outside.

- What the (muted)?

Who did a fire safety inspection?

Not you, bro!

Who did it?

What are the results of your imaginary safety inspection?

Oh, that's so interesting, 'cause I wasn't there.

Who was there?

Who participated?

- I, I take great comfort in hearing from Deputy Chief Jessop around the, you know, the small, portable type of shelter that Mr. Seivwright spoke about today and indicated that it, you know, met all the standards.

It doesn't, and I don't want people to die from fire... - Word!

THOMPSON: Moving on.

- (exhales heavily) THOMPSON: We are now moving members to EC18.8.

That is the Toronto Rent Bank and eviction prevention in the community, and we have... - One speaker.

- ...a number of speakers on this item.

- Oh.

THOMPSON: Our first speaker is Khaleel Seivwright.

Mr. Seivwright, are you there?

SEIVWRIGHT: Yep.

- You're there?

Thank you very much.

You may proceed, sir.

SEIVWRIGHT: Okay, I guess I would like to start by saying, the, the question Michael Thompson made for Jim Jessop about the tiny shelter, which he avoided answering, he made a point of... THOMPSON: Mr. Seivwright.

SEIVWRIGHT: Yes?

Yes.

THOMPSON: I wonder if you could speak to the issue that we're dealing with.

It's the Toronto Rent Bank and eviction prevention in the community.

That's the issue that we're dealing with at this moment, sir.

You have had the opportunity to express your opinion on the, the units that you build on the previous issue.

What's in front of us is eviction.

If you could speak to that, that'd be very helpful, sir.

Thank you.

SEIVWRIGHT: I'll continue to speak to that, because this is extremely relevant, considering how many people are being evicted right now.

But I think it's also very relevant, considering these people will be possibly living in these tiny shelters that, you know, there was not a fire safety inspection done on these shelters by Jim Jessop or anyone from the fire department.

And for you to say that they are "definitely not safe" is a complete lie.

That's an inaccurate statement.

So I would like a fire safety inspection to be done and for you to see the results of this inspection.

Thank you.

THOMPSON: Thank you very much, sir.

Let me check to see if there are any questions of you.

Looking to see if there are any visiting members of committee.

I'm seeing none.

Looking at members of committee.

There are no questions of you, sir, thank you very much.

Okay, our next speaker is Annie Hodgkins, Center for Equality Rights in Accommodation... (drill whirring) (tools whirring) REPORTER: A homeless man froze to death over the weekend.

His body was found in the plateau in a public toilet, not far from the Open Door, a drop-in center where he'd been earlier Saturday night.

Staff at the shelter say he should not have had to die.

Angela MacKenzie reports.

(drill whirring) - I don't know, just weird (muted).

Like, my mom's calling me and she keeps telling me to stop doing what I'm doing.

RUSSELL: Why?

- Because she's (muted) worried.

Yeah, she's really stressed out.

(drill whirs) RUSSELL: What did she say?

- She sent me a text.

I haven't even answered her phone calls.

RUSSELL: What did the text say?

- You know, "Khaleel, you should stop."

You know, "You did your best."

Like, "You should just stop because you're gonna get (muted)."

She didn't say it like that, but that's, like, what she meant.

♪ ♪ Okay.

(gas hissing) You can touch it.

It's amazing, yeah.

It does not burn.

The shelter's fine.

♪ ♪ Come on.

I've been building these things.

MAN: Yeah.

- And giving them to people, and I'm just trying to find out an actual firefighter's opinion about them.

MAN (on voicemail greeting): This is the voicemail of Toronto Fire Services.

I am in the office today, but unable to take your call at the moment, so if you'd like to leave a message, please do so after the tone-- thank you.

(voicemail beeps) - My name's Khaleel Seivwright.

I got your number from a fire chief at the Dufferin fire station, Dufferin DuPont, and I was hoping to have a conversation with you.

(saw buzzing) (phone ringing, tool whirring) FIRE CAPTAIN (over phone): Hello, Khaleel.

This is Toronto Fire.

- Oh, hey.

I guess I'm just interested in getting your honest opinion about the shelters.

CAPTAIN: Well, you know, um, we're not a fan.

I mean, we're-- let me, let me just back up.

We're not a fan of this whole situation, so... - Yeah.

- A path to stable housing is everybody's goal here.

- I've actually, I've written up a letter that I've been trying to get to John Tory.

It's a negotiation letter.

And I guess my very specific idea is that I'm aware that the city is getting more housing online for people, and that there's going to be more, more spaces for people to go to in the next months, in the next few months, next few weeks, and that, okay, I've built these shelters for people that are outside currently, but I understand that they would like to be inside.

Like, no one wants to be living in a tiny box.

- Exactly.

- So, and that's, and that's, like, I'm fully aware of this, but there's many people that are outside that would like to be in housing.

And I guess in my negotiation letter, I'm talking about, what if this could be an interim for people as they're getting into housing?

And then I could move these shelters, and then eventually remove them from all city property when the weather's warm enough?

- Yeah, I, I don't know, Khaleel, because, as I say, that's a better discussion to have with Dan [indistinct].

I'm only looking at it from, from a fire-safety standpoint.

- I guess... - You know, if, if we got to classify it as, you know... What do we classify it as?

Is it a box?

Is it a building?

Is it this?

It doesn't really fit the mold of any sort of recognized, recognized standard.

You know, what standard is it built to?

Material, you know.

- Well, I mean, it's, it's very...

It's interesting, because there's... - It's a box.

- There's been a few, there's actually a few examples of different cities around the world building extremely similar structures for people that are stuck outside, and they're, they're working with governments to do this, and it's, yeah.

It's something that's endorsed by their government to protect people.

- (groans): Yeah, I know, it's...

I mean, and it sounds okay until it's not, Khaleel.

We want to get these folks into shelters, into hotel rooms.

We want to get them on a path to sustainable housing.

- I guess I'll still send you over the blueprints just to get your honest opinion about them.

♪ ♪ I like some of Nietzsche's thoughts about, like, people are soldiers.

They'll fight consistently.

They'll show up, they'll do their job, and leave.

But warriors, they, they can't take a break.

The soldier can go on vacation, but the warrior, the only peace they have is victory.

I love that.

They're just relentlessly pushing something forward.

♪ ♪ (tool tapping) (stapler punching) (tools whirring) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ SEIVWRIGHT: Can you push it?

- Oh, yeah.

DREW BARRYMORE: Okay, this next story actually comes from Toronto.

A carpenter named Khaleel Seivwright is building insulated shelters for homeless people in the community.

This is the kind of stuff I need to hear.

♪ ♪ - A drill and a hammer.

Let's meet the carpenter from Canada crafting mobile shelters.

(reporter speaking French) REPORTER: One Toronto carpenter is receiving praise.

REPORTER: Those who have used them call it a saving grace.

WOMAN (over phone): I'm s impressed by what you're doing.

It's actually incredible-- you are such a hero.

- That's cool.

♪ ♪ (saw buzzing) (nail gun firing) ♪ ♪ (music playing, people talking in background) SEIVWRIGHT: Whoo!

Oh, I have to get a beer.

(laughing) (fire crackling) (dog barks) (barking continues) ♪ ♪ TAKA: And, and Khaleel.

I so hope that he will not take that everybody needs home as much as I did.

Khaleel is one person.

He cannot warm up the whole universe.

♪ ♪ JESSOP: Okay, so good morning, everyone, and thank you for coming.

Early this morning, just around 6:00 a.m., Toronto Fire Service responded to the report of a fire, a very visible fire, at this location.

Upon arrival, our crews were met with a fully involved structure fire, what can best be described as a tiny wooden structure.

The fire was quickly extinguished.

Unfortunately, once the fire was extinguished, our crews conducted their search inside, and noted one deceased person with obvious signs of death.

REPORTER And these particular structures, where did they come from?

JESSOP: I'm not sure.

To be honest, again it would be inappropriate for me to guess how they've arrived in, you know, in this city park.

That will probably form part of the investigation, but I, I have no idea.

- Did they tell you anything more about what happened?

WOMAN (over phone) Uh, he had a heater in the unit.

And from what I hear from one of his friends-- and again, I'm just assuming that, I don't really know for sure-- that it was a gas-fueled heater.

- Okay.

And then it just lit on fire.

- Yeah, like, I think it started from the inside.

(phone chimes) SAMARA SECTER (over phone): Uh, the first option is just, like, a quiet negotiation.

Doesn't have to be quiet, but it could be a negotiation.

Like, everyone sort of says, "Hold on, before we go to court, "and before everyone expends all these resources, "let's talk about what your goals are, City, and let's talk about what Khaleel's goals are," okay?

- Hmm.

- The second option is to just say, "Okay, bring it.

We are going to court."

- Uh, mm-hmm.

- So basically, the point is, is, enforcing the bylaw, forcing people out of these encampments, or forcing me to stop building these, puts people's lives at risk because of the failure of the shelter system.

- Mm-hmm.

♪ ♪ TAKA: Imagine you are climbing the mountain.

You've been climbing it for so long, the top of the mountain been in your foresight for so long.

And finally you got there.

You got to the top.

What happens now?

Now you're gonna have to descend.

(laughs) And all the skills that you learn in ascending do not apply in descent.

(chuckles) Plus, you're tired, plus, you're exhausted.

- Hi!

Are you here to serve Tory?

CHARLOTTE SMITH: Yeah, so we're here at John Tory's condo, trying to contest the injunction that he has served to Khaleel Seivwright.

And we're trying to get him to stop the injunction, repeal the bylaws that criminalize people who are living in parks, and create more affordable RGI housing.

- Yeah, the tiny house is well-structured.

You don't need no heat, you don't need no, no nothing in there.

As long as you go inside and close the door, you're good.

RUSSELL: You had, you had a couple or you have one?

- I have one, but I'm the first person that get it.

I was the first one that get, that, that get it, yeah.

When it, when it burned down, is, people careless.

Like, go in there, do whatever they do and get high, fall asleep, and something wrong.

But otherwise from that, it's good.

RUSSELL: Did you have any problems with yours?

- I have no problems whatsoever.

(music playing in distance) (video playing) RUSSELL: It's just a very nice day out.

- It's really bright in here when that, when the light's coming in.

RUSSELL: When it's all coming through.

It's a really nice day out.

- Yeah.

RUSSELL: It's cold, but it's nice.

TAKA: After 103 days in the box, 112 days in the park, I can't believe now from this, I have survived the winter.

I can't believe we did it.

(laughs) The skateboarders replaced the figure skaters, kids are playing, birds are here, tents are standing.

Somehow, we existed for four months.

It was some sort of peace around here, meaning we can coexist.

How much imposition do I cause on anybody sitting in this box?

None.

RUSSELL: None.

TAKA: Speaking about myself, why did I arrive to Alexandra Park?

I gave up on life.

Now the thoughts of life resurfacing.

Maybe I gave up on myself too prematurely.

Maybe I still have something to say or something to feel.

Maybe I'm not done yet.

(staple gun punching) TORY: These encampments are not safe, they are not healthy, and they do not belong in public parks.

They're not to be in public parks.

But we're not just clearing them out.

We are preceding that by extensive work that is going on right now to talk to each and every one of those individuals and find them better housing.

(piano playing) (piano continues) SECTER (over phone): If you don't want to constitutionally challenge this, you're just not interested, that's a different story.

- Well, I mean, that's also true.

I guess I want to get back to living my life.

And, and I guess it's, it's interesting, like, I don't... Like, I'm not someone that considers myself an activist, you know, in, in any way.

It's, like, leading up to building these shelters, it's just simply something that I saw that I could do that made sense.

(broom sweeping) (audio fades) WOMAN: Good morning.

I would like to call this meeting to order.

Please join me for the national anthem.

STEPHEN HOLYDAY: My motion is rather short: that city council adopt a goal of zero encampments.

I've heard from many constituents of mine that have a lot of concerns over the mass encampments in parks, and I think people see that as not being fair.

♪ ♪ But others seem to somehow either not have to follow the rules, or they gain some sort of a benefit by having access to public land for their own.

DENZIL MINNAN-WONG: Councilor Holyday's aspirational statements would find, I think, broad support in the public to end these encampments.

♪ ♪ I don't think that we should be making it easier for the people in these encampments to sustain and live longer in these encampments.

We should be encouraging them to leave.

♪ ♪ TORY: I will lead the city administration in doing groundbreaking work on supportive housing and supports for people who are experiencing homelessness.

I do not believe failing to act on encampments indefinitely represents any kind of compassionate approach for those who are experiencing homelessness, nor is it fair and considerate to all of the other people who want to have the opportunity to use those parks.

♪ ♪ (metal clattering) ♪ ♪ - So they've given people two hours to, like, accept an offer and get their (muted) packed up, and then I guess whatever they can't take, the City will deal with.

It's not gonna work, so this is not gonna be good.

(helicopter hovering) DEAN: When people don't leave, which, you know, they're not going to, what's the next step?

MAN: I don't know-- I have no idea, I'll be honest.

If I knew what was the next step, I would tell you, but I don't.

- Okay, yeah.

♪ ♪ PROTESTERS (chanting): Who do you protect?

(chant continues) ♪ ♪ (electronic horns honking, people clamoring) (people shouting) MAN: Where is the money for housing?

(all clamoring) OFFICER: Stand back-- stand back, okay?

- Don't push people around!

- Stand back.

- You guys are the ones being violent!

WOMAN: The goal is to deescalate, right?

The residents don't want a big, violent thing happening.

(people shouting, clamoring) MAN 1: Hey!

MAN 2: Stop!

MAN 1: Get off of her!

PROTESTERS (chanting): Let them go!

(radios running) (helicopter hovering) DEAN: I think they're gonna back us out slowly until this place is cleared, and then we will not be able to get back in.

WOMAN: At any park, we can stay, in case anything happen here?

DEAN: It would be the same bylaw that they'd be...

So you'd be... WOMAN: Everywhere?

DEAN: Everywhere.

For public parks in Toronto.

(breathes deeply) Would you just, at least, if I was there, come and just talk to Mitchell, and you can ask him your questions?

WOMAN: I, I would-- let's go.

DEAN: Okay.

WOMAN: You're Mitchell, right?

MITCHELL: Yes.

WOMAN: I know him.

MITCHELL: Remember we, we connected a couple of times?

WOMAN: I know.

MITCHELL: So... WOMAN: You're handling disaster.

This is no good karma in, in your lifetime, sir.

You spend huge million dollars for nothing?!

(shouting): Spend huge million dollars doing nothing!

You spend million dollar-- it's not for the housing!

Shame on you!

DEAN: Wait, Mitchell, you stay.

MITCHELL: We're not staying.

DEAN: Please stay for a minute.

MITCHELL: No, we're not staying.

WOMAN: You see?

DEAN: Mitchell?

But this is... (people talking in background) DEAN: Okay, so the police are gonna come in now.

Okay?

WOMAN: Yes.

DEAN: And that was an opportunity for housing.

WOMAN: I withdraw.

I withdraw to make the peaceful.

DEAN: So do you have belongings that you'd like to have... WOMAN: Yeah, yeah, I do, I do.

DEAN: So... WOMAN: I have the whole tent and everything.

DEAN: So what's gonna happen, then, is, all we're gonna be able to do is try to give them instructions on how to pack your stuff up.

♪ ♪ (reverse signal beeping) (reverse signal beeping) (people talking in background) (people shouting) (reverse signal beeping) ♪ ♪ TAKA: The more enlightened you become, the more hurting everything in the world to you.

So much food-- how is anybody hungry?

So much everything, right?

♪ ♪ (chuckling): When you go through elevation, devastation, and then reality check finally sets in.

VALENTINA: This is the first time I'm in the park, in the real park-- real, I mean, no one here except residents of the city enjoying the park-- since I purchased the place.

I'm glad that the city took part and finally, uh, uh... Well, some people, I'm sure, found places to stay.

Others had the choice, but they had to leave this park, and I'm, I'm glad that it, it happened.

(dog barking) Yeah, are you loving it here?

Oh, there you go.

This is what we've been waiting for.

(laughing) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪