200 WELLESLEY STREET RESIDENTS RELOCATED FROM RECEPTION CENTRES

TORONTO, Sept. 28 /CNW/ - One hundred and twenty-eight households that have been staying in temporary locations since Friday night's six-alarm fire at 200 Wellesley Street East have been moved for the remainder of the week.

By 12 am Tuesday, most residents were moved to hotels, furnished apartments and other temporary accommodations, given food vouchers and TTC tokens. Every resident was given the opportunity to move to a hotel; however 54 people chose to spend the night at the Wellesley Community Centre (495 Sherbourne Street).

The Wellesley Community Centre will remain open as a resource centre for residents to receive support and information. Other reception centres will close today. Residents can visit the Wellesley Community Centre for:

• mail pick up from Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 2pm
• crisis counselling
• help to acquire necessary medications
• animal retrieval and housing
• social service supports
• comfort services including meals, quiet/sleeping rooms.

Residents of 200 Wellesley Street East who are not at the Wellesley Community Centre but have questions/or need more information can call the Toronto Community Housing tenant hotline at 416-981-5520.

The Toronto Office of Partnerships is still collecting donations of cash and gift cards for the displaced residents. Cheques should be made out to the City of Toronto, 200 Wellesley fire. Donations are tax deductible, donors should include their full names and addresses to receive receipts. Cheques can also be mailed to: the Toronto Office of Partnerships, Metro Hall, First Floor, 55 John Street, Toronto ON M5V 3C6

The City has also opened a bank account to collect donations, donors can make a donation at any RBC branch in the city and make a deposit to the account for "200 Wellesley." Clothing donations can no longer be accepted.

Gift cards for grocery, department and drug stores are also being accepted at the Community Centre at 519 Church Street.

The Ontario Fire Marshal continues to investigate the cause of the fire while Toronto Community Housing staff and engineers are working to assess the integrity of the structure. More information on re-entry will be shared with residents as soon as it becomes available.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents. For information about non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Toronto Community Housing is Canada's largest social housing provider and home to more than 164,000 tenants, about 6% of the city's population, with low and moderate incomes. Toronto Community Housing employs 1,400 staff in a broad range of jobs who deliver its mandate to provide quality housing and build great neighbourhoods. Toronto Community Housing is one of Canada's 2010 Top 100 Employers.

For further information:

Media contact:
Rob Andrusevich
City of Toronto
416-200-3660

Keesha Abraham
Communications Consultant,
Public Affairs
416-981-4344 office
416-936-4466 mobile
[email protected]