Save The Cornerstone Shelter, Approve its relocation to 616 Vaughan Road

 As long-time, new and old residents of the  Vaughan-Oakwood community, we welcome everyone. For that reason, we ask Toronto City Council to support the relocation of Cornerstone Place shelter to 616 Vaughan Road without delay. Delaying the sale of this building will effectively terminate the possibility and 50 shelter beds will be lost at a time when Toronto’s shelter system is over capacity and turning away people in need of shelter. We believe this would be a catastrophic loss for Toronto’s most vulnerable residents. Moreover, it sets a dangerous precedent for other communities, since Council has the authority to approve shelter locations anywhere in the city.

Cornerstone has an excellent reputation in the community where it has offered service to homeless men at its St. Clair West location for decades. The proposed building is already zoned as a shelter and is designed to accommodate dining as well as beds. A shelter will benefit all Vaughan-Oakwood residents by creating a safe space within the community.

In making any decision regarding the Cornerstone Place relocation, we believe City Council must prioritize the needs of shelter users because it is their basic housing needs that are at the heart of this issue.

Further, we seek Toronto City Council’s commitment to invest in social development, economic development and land-use planning processes to meet the needs of our entire community. Together we can ensure that Oakwood-Vaughan reaches its full potential.