A lengthy meeting between city hall, a coalition of front-line workers, and other community agencies battling homelessness is dragging into the night as organizations push for changes to the way London is handling its housing crisis.
A member of the Forgotten 519, a grassroots group that says it represents hundreds of outreach workers and others serving homeless Londoners, began a hunger strike on Tuesday to put pressure on city hall.
Thursday’s meeting, which was led by a facilitator at city hall’s suggestion, began in the early afternoon.
“The Forgotten 519, the city and representatives from agencies across the community have been meeting since 1 pm We all remain at the table,” an organizer with The Forgotten 519 said in a brief update.
“We anticipate meeting into and throughout the evening to come to consensus and solutions.”
The group issued an ultimatum in late July urging changes, including to the way outreach is done with people on the street, an end to breaking up encampments, and city hall opening two 24/7 drop-in spaces downtown and in Old East Village.
Dan Oudshoorn, a longtime front-line worker, has gone without food since Tuesday morning. He’s set up on the lawn outside city hall, along with dozens of memorial crosses to represent the homeless Londoners who have died in the last three years.
Oudshoorn has since lost nine pounds. He is taking in only water with electrolytes.
The Forgotten 519 also plans an open mic night on the steps of city hall for Thursday beginning at 7 pm