Community of Hope Blog

by Kathryn Hill

On June 11th, 2014, Council was presented with our petition and voted unanimously to approve Councillor Paula Fletcher’s motion to help secure the long-term future of the family shelter.

This gave great hope. Executive Director, Bernnitta Hawkins (retired) said: “It says very clearly that our funder is supporting us, and that’s very important. This gives us a foundation underneath us when we go into negotiations.”

By Kathryn Hill

Former Toronto Mayor David Crombie, Toronto's beloved 'tiny perfect mayor,' has been a vocal supporter in the fight to keep the family shelter open.

In 2014 he headed a leadership team reaching out to all levels of government for support. He spoke passionately at our community meeting on April 7th, 2014. He became Honorary Chair of our campaign to raise $3M to equip the new family shelter.

by Kathryn Hill

When news of the possible closure of the Red Door's family shelter became public, former residents of the shelter spoke out.

Olay teared up as she said: “When I came to Canada I had no one. But the Red Door Shelter took me in. They are my family, like my mother to me. They made me believe that anything I could dream, I could achieve. I would not be here today without them. It pains me, like a death in the family, the death of my mother, to think Red Door might not be here on Queen St. to help others.”