Help Michael L. Keep His Home While Recovering

Hi, my name is Diana Chan McNally, and I am a front-line community worker with homeless people in Toronto. While volunteering my time with the dine-in meal program at St. Luke's Out of the Cold in Allan Gardens, I met a young man in a very bad situation — one that urgently needs your help!

Michael is 27-years old and Chinese-Korean — he reminds me a lot of my cousins. He has been searching for work for months. He has solid experience working in retail, but he is also competing against hundreds of other young people and newcomers for what are often minimum wage jobs. Youth unemployment in Toronto is the highest it's been in over a decade — it's hard out there for young people!

In the meantime, Michael has been working for UberEats, delivering meals on foot — he can't afford a bike or his own BikeShare account. For weeks, he was regularly walking up to 50 kilometres a day delivering meals, never for more than $5 an hour for up to 12 hours a day. Michael is a hard worker, but UberEats hasn't provided him with a livable wage.

Unfortunately, because Michael has been walking so much, he has torn the ligaments in both of his knees and is facing life-altering surgery. His doctor has told him that he needs to rest for at least three months or else risk being permanently unable to walk.

Michael can't work; if he does, he could become permanently disabled. We have applied for him to access Ontario Works (OW), but unfortunately OW will not come close to covering his rent, which is $1,250 a month. Unfortunately, the Rent Bank will also only cover one month of his rent, and Michael must rest for at least three months. When he is well, he is open to employment programs — but he needs to get well first.

Michael has no family who can help, so I am helping him to keep his housing and recover. There are no other lifelines for him — I've connected him to everything that's available.

I am hoping that you can help Michael to cover two months of rent while he rests — he needs you! There really are no other options.

Thank you for your time and for your care!