'I was stranded on the streets': Toronto shelter shortage prompts churches to open doors to asylum seekers

Perminus Njeru, 47, landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport eight days ago from Kenya after escaping a situation that he said left him "fearing for his life."

Njeru is among the hundreds of asylum seekers who have landed in Toronto over the past several months. He said the research they conducted prior to their arrival in Canada left them with the impression that they were guaranteed to find a roof over their heads. They assumed they would have their basic needs met while filing paperwork that would legalize their new beginning in the country.

After an Uber trip from the airport to the Toronto Streets and Homes Assessment and Referral Centre located at 129 Peter Street, Njeru says he was told that the shelter was at capacity and he would have to make other arrangements.

After travelling by air for over 15 hours and being thousands of miles away from his home country and loved ones, Njeru said there was no backup plan.

"I was stranded on the streets for three days. I slept on the sidewalk, and it was very cold at night. What we went through was very traumatizing," Njeru said in an interview with Yahoo Canada. "For a moment, I regretted coming. I came from trouble and I found myself in more trouble."

During the three days he spent camped on the sidewalk outside 129 Peter Street, Njeru said he was thankful for those who would come by and drop off meals and supplies like socks and gloves.

It was not until he heard about an Etobicoke church, which was providing shelter and other basic necessities for asylum seekers, that Njeru said his hope of a new start in Canada was restored.

Churches across the GTA open their doors to asylum seekers

News of the growing crisis on the Peter Street sidewalks made its way through the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) community, prompting several churches and non-profit agencies to spring into action — one of those being Etobicoke's Pilgrim Feast Tabernacles church.

Josh Paul, who volunteers at the church as a coordinator, explained to Yahoo Canada that a call from a different GTA church that was at capacity with sheltering asylum seekers prompted them to join in providing a safe space for Canadian newcomers.

"We are working to provide a safe place for people to sleep, to eat and offer them peace of mind, because people leave countries back home for many sudden reasons — many being their personal safety," Paul, a recent refugee from Uganda himself, said.

With an increasing number of churches running out of space, and demand for support surging, Paul explained they are in a tough position as his church has been covering the cost of mattresses, food and other essentials the Canadian arrivals require, and the resources on hand are not infinite. As a result, asylum seekers are being limited to stays ranging from five to eight days, and he stressed this is only a temporary solution as the city searches for a sustainable long-term solution.

At the time of speaking with Paul, he shared there were over 79 asylum seekers in their care, with more arriving every day.

Why are asylum seekers winding up on Toronto streets?

Between the months of January and June of 2023, a combined total of 33,920 asylum claimants were granted entry into Canada, according to statistics released by the federal government.

Ontario alone welcomed 8,425 asylum asylum seekers this year — up significantly from the 5,260 reported by the border agency from January to July 2022.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford advocated for asylum seekers in March when questioned by media about the situation in Niagara Falls where hotel rooms were being used to house thousands of asylum seekers.

"Canada should embrace those escaping tyranny or seeking a better life. Let’s just help them any way we can,” the premier said.

However, as provincial funding and resources dwindled as the year progressed, many questioned Canada's preparedness to handle the influx of newcomers and prompted the Province of Ontario to turn to the federal government for financial assistance.

Since the beginning of June, Toronto city programs have stated they have been forced to turn asylum seekers away from shelters. The number of asylum seekers in the shelter system grew a staggering 500 per cent over the past 20 months, Toronto Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie said.

In a letter drafted to newly-elected Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow on July 24, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland outlined that the federal government had provided over $6 billion in funding to the city since the party's election in 2015 and if additional aid was needed, Toronto should pull money from reserve accounts or request funding from Ford's provincial government.

Refugees and asylum seekers have found themselves in increasingly challenging conditions over the past few months after their arrival in Canada. Chow issued an apology on July 28 while visiting them at a North York church.

"I also want on behalf of the City of Toronto and other levels of government to apologize for the way they've been treated on the streets and the lack of dignity that they experienced," the mayor said.

All levels of government announce assistance to aid crisis

In a joint statement released late July, Chow and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that both the province and the city will be providing a one-time funding top up to the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit of $6.67 million. The top up will be aimed at providing eligible households with a housing benefit to assist with the cost of rent, as a means of getting people into permanent housing from city shelters.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser also announced in late July that $210 million in funding was being provided from federal coffers to help house asylum seekers, with nearly half of that money going directly to the City of Toronto.

"The City of Toronto's share of this funding will be close to $100 million, more like $97 million is where I expect this to land," the immigration minister said. "Our modelling demonstrates this should more than enough to cover the costs of interim housing for the people who are currently being denied access to the shelter system by the city of Toronto."

How can you help?

Njeru, along with other asylum seekers who have recently landed in Canada, say they are thankful to the churches that have opened their doors and provided them with shelter and resources, allowing them to complete their entry paperwork in a safe environment and ultimately, keeping them off the streets.

"How I arrived was not good, and I hope for the others who arrive after me, that they will not have to experience the same," Njeru said.

Paul indicated he is grateful for the growing awareness of the crisis, and will continue sharing intimate glances of the work his church is doing on his TikTok account.

He went on to share that as the church has been funding most of the temporary shelter themselves, resources such as donations, food and even translating services are desperately needed.

"When people arrive at our church and others, and they see they have a place to sleep, have a warm meal — you can see the joy on their faces, and it calms them down. Many people who arrive have not had sleep or a shower in several days," Paul said.

If you feel inclined to support this initiative in any way, head over to Pilgrim Feast Tabernacle to donate or visit 988 Albion Road in Etobicoke to drop off supplies.