Trial by Shelter: Speaking back to the war on the unhoused

In this part 2 of episode 3 we delve deeper into who are most vulnerable to service restrictions, the consequences people face, the lack of accountability for the unjust harms of service restrictions, or a harm reduction approach to preventing them. Former shelter worker, activist and artist, Noora Mahmood joins us again with her inside view of the shelter system. And the many community members who have done the labour of sharing their testimonials so that the public can come to understand how carceral and punitive the Toronto shelter system is. This episode was funded by the Ontario Arts Council. This is the last of our funding so if you can, donate through the Voices 4 Unhoused Liberation website: https://www.unhousedliberation.ca/support

The shelter system in Toronto (as elsewhere) is very carceral. It operates on a system of punishment where a person can be kicked out of the shelter, or 'service restricted,' often for no real reason. In this episode we talk to people about their various experiences being 'service restricted.' It is an egregious practice that harms unhoused people.

In episode 2, former shelter worker, tattoo artist and activist, Noora Mahmoud describes her time working at the most infamous shelter in Toronto: Seaton House. Noora describes how Seaton House is an example of how carceral the shelter system is.

Narrated by Sid Jackson

This inaugural episode introduces the listeners to the Delta shelter hotel community in north Scarborough, Ontario. Shelter residents speak to a variety of harms they experience in the shelter system.