Novotel residents, supporters protest against alleged forced evictions

Residents of the Novotel Toronto Centre and their supporters allege they are being forcibly evicted by the City of Toronto and Toronto police as the temporary homeless shelter prepares to close.

A CityNews camera captured tense standoffs between officers and demonstrators gathered outside the hotel shelter on Esplanade Street Monday night.

The catalyst for the demonstration appeared to be a video shared on Twitter earlier in the day showing a woman handcuffed and dragged out of the hotel into a police cruiser by officers.

The account “Voices from the Novotel” tweeted that the violent interaction captured on camera was from Nov. 21 and alleged the woman was ticketed for trespassing and placed in another shelter without her consent.

“We are here because residents at the Novotel continue to be ignored by the City,” one supporter, who did not give her name, told CityNews at the demonstration. “Why is the city allowing for such abuse to exist? People will say the City’s plan [for unhoused people] is inadequate. That’s completely unacceptable, this is their plan.”

The City of Toronto leased the hotel to increase its shelter bed capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic but announced last month the site would close by the end of the year. The move will impact 251 unhoused people.

At the time, the City said it would work with clients to develop individualized housing plans. Residents contend that so far, they’ve had no help finding other accommodations.

“Residents have not been consulted. Instead, residents are given, at times, 10 minutes to pack up their stuff and be relocated,” the supporter said. “If they don’t agree with the location, perhaps it’s a location that doesn’t suit their needs because everyone has different abilities, they get tossed out into the street. Those that have been tossed onto the street, many have stories of all of their belongings being thrown out.”

The City’s Shelter, Support and Housing Administration said in a statement on Tuesday it has been working with its partner Homes First Society since Oct. 11 to relocate residents.

“No resident has been forcibly moved offsite due to a relocation. It’s a collaborative process. Referrals to date have been voluntary, and support is provided to residents with their moves on the agreed-upon dates,” the statement read. “The health and safety of residents and staff at shelter locations are paramount. If staff are concerned for the wellbeing of a client or the safety of staff, Toronto police or crisis intervention teams may be called to assist.”

Toronto police deferred to the City in its own statement sent to CityNews on Tuesday.

“Anything involving shelter and housing in Toronto, including at the Novotel, is managed and led by the City,” Toronto police said. “TPS does not enforce evictions…Police officers can carry out enforcement at the City’s request if someone refuses to leave the premise. They may be issued a ticket for trespassing and removed.”

“You’ve had people that have stayed here for two years who have never seen a worker, but you’re suddenly being kicked out,” a resident named Dredz told CityNews. He added when residents try to get answers, they are often criminalized.

Dredz said he has seen residents brought out of the hotel being held by their arms and legs by four officers “like a sack of potatoes.” Commenting on the police presence outside the hotel Monday night, Dredz said it is part of a pattern that criminalizes people experiencing homelessness for simply existing in public spaces.

“What says that [officers] came to reason, serve and protect our interests?” he questioned. “We’re supposed to put faith in that?”

Police confirmed they were called to the Novotel on Monday to clear a demonstration involving approximately 60 people. There were no arrests or injuries reported.

Advocates are calling on the City and police to respect residents’ rights to refuse relocation, provide compensation for the disposal of personal belongings, and provide promised housing plans.

The City must clear the site and hand it back to the property owner on Dec. 31.