Lorraine Lam
@lorrainelamchop
virtual high fives / faith + justice / harm reduction always / frontline: outreach + case mgt / toronto / carbs / views mine ✌🏼 / email for interview requests.
Y'ALL these “500 cooling spaces” are NOT cooling centres. they (malls, civic centres, libraries, etc) are just SPACES WITH A/C. they are NOT open 24/7, do not provide water/food or an option for people to lie down. we need 24/7 cooling centre respites! ctvnews.ca/toronto/articl…
this heat, plus this pouring rain. shelters full, no 24/7 cooling centres. what options are there for people unhoused? maddening.
Your charity, your words of shock after the genocide, won’t make a difference. We will not accept your apology after the genocide. What has been done, has been done. I want you to look in the mirror, and ask: where was I when Gaza was going through a genocide?
people are so upset about drug use and my whole point is: why are people using drugs out in public? bc there is nowhere to go. you may be disgusted by public drug use, but this isn’t about you. ask how we got here: where do people go?
Had an opportunity to be back on The Social to discuss Bill 6. Disguised as a bill to prohibit public drug use, it's really a bill abt criminalizing people who are unhoused. let's move the needle on this conversation towards addressing systemic change. youtu.be/9olQ8SrB6gE?fe…
In one of those apartments was a certificate honouring 25 years in provincial public service. I have seen it many times - we are all one unthinkable tragedy away from unthinkable circumstances and real suffering, and lucky if we avoid or survive it...
folks upset abt “taxpayer dollars” spent on harm reduction often support things that cost more: police, jails, overdoses, healthcare costs, blocking shelters… tbh if you follow the convo & ask “so where do people go?”, it’s really that they want poor people & drug users to die.
We hope council votes to reject this half-baked motion from a Councillor who represents a ward far outside the scope of planned RapidTO lanes on Bathurst and Dufferin Streets.
Councillor Brad Bradford moves to make the RapidTO lanes on Bathurst & Dufferin temporary, expiring July 31, 2026.
Been hesitant to comment on this one as I’m a little close to the subject on a couple fronts, but think it’s a little condescending to suggest mere proximity to a patio will trigger relapse for people in a supportive housing building: toronto.citynews.ca/2025/07/19/liq…
Whoever made this acronym was asleep at the wheel. Luckily, there's a less unfortunate alternative: Fare Evasion Counter Enforcement Services
Just spotted some POO’s on the street. (Did ANYONE workshop this?)
This is beyond complicity. They might as well hire Netanyahu at this point.
EXPOSED: A new dossier from @wawog_now reveals material and ideological ties between Israel and journalists, editors, and executives of The New York Times. Whether serving in the IOF or taking money from pro-Israel consultancies, the staff at the Times is compromised.
it is SO hot. 630pm and some of the city’s “cool spaces” have closed. there still is only one 24/7 cooling centre and it has no cots, no food, no privacy. organizations haven’t received their water yet. like are yall just waiting for a death before any urgency?!
Imagine if we prioritized housing people the way do housing cars
two of the terrible takes today (out of many) from people opposed to shelters: 1. "we support shelters but in a suitable location" (after which it's clear to them, suitable locations are just "anywhere but here" 2. this is a class A parking lot (save our parking, no shelters!)
$1 for each one of these misconceptions about homelessness and we could build some housing! or at least pay rent for some people for a long time.
Imagine hating people enough to endure cold rainy misery solely for the sake of inflicting cold rainy misery on others
IMAGINE HAVING TO BE OUTSIDE IN THE COLD AND RAIN
Watching deputations by neighbours who are absolutely LIVID about proposed homeless shelters. This man in particular is complaining that a community consultation took place on a cold rainy evening & residents had to wait outside. Anyway, at least 1500 Torontonians have no shelter
ugly message, ugly design, ugly personalities.
imagine making and wearing shirts that say “no homeless shelter in downsview” because there are people publicly wearing this and showing up at council today.