Aaron said the COVID-19 pandemic has made life even more difficult for homeless people because congregate settings, such as libraries, coffee shops and fast food outlets, are closed under the provincial stay-at-home order and second state of emergency.
Rafi Aaron, spokesperson for the Interfaith Coalition to Fight Homelessness, stands outside of the office of Toronto Mayor John Tory on Jan. 14. 2020, after a petition signed by 30,000 people demanded that the mayor declare homelessness to be an emergency in the city. The petition followed a ceremony at the Homeless Memorial that marked the 1,000th name added to the Memorial.(Paul Salvatori)
Advocates estimate there are anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 people living outside and around 40 encampments in Toronto. The city estimates the number of people outside is closer to 400.