Hi everyone, it’s Lisa. Over the holidays I received an eviction order in my Christmas stocking, and I need your help. I have lived and worked in and around our small community in South Etobicoke since the mid 90s. A lot of you know me from either working at Pet Valu, or walking dogs, and some of you know me from the sunrise photos I share. Living in my neighbourhood means so much to me. I have access to the 24 hour streetcar and two GO Stations near by. Since my job requires me to get to and from work very early in the morning and very late at night, the convenience of transit is a necessary means for me to afford to live. I have also found peace in all the green space my neighbourhood has to offer. I've spent countless mornings at the lake, finding inspiration in the sunrises and with the ducks. I discovered a love and talent in taking photos of the natural beauty around me, which I've shared with many of you. I have seen a lot, learned a lot, and have grown a lot living here, and I can’t imagine living anywhere other than this community. 

What most of you don’t know is, the quaint building that I have called home since 2014 was sold in December 2021. The great landlord I had, who didn’t care about raising rent, and kept it affordable so he would have good tenants who would want to live in the building for many, many years, sold the building to the human equivalent of the Grinch. Just a few days before Christmas 2021, he evicted all of the tenants, because he wants to split our nice, affordable units from two bedrooms, to all one bedroom units. 

After a 4 year fight with the landlord and tenant board, I was officially evicted from my home in December 2025, and have to move by the end of February 2026.

Living affordably has helped me, because the industry I work in does not guarantee that you get work, and 2025 was a particularly bad year for me work wise. Now, having been evicted, with still very little work out there right now, and the possibility of needing surgery in the coming months, I am asking my community for help. 

Normally I wouldn’t ask, and would just try to figure things out on my own, but in order for me to be able to find a safe place close by, that I can call home; where I can create new memories that hopefully include sunrises and ducks, and recover from surgery without having to worry about how I’m going to get by…I have to.

If you can donate, any amount will be helpful. Money raised will go toward helping with first and last month’s rent, as well as any moving expenses. If there are any funds left, that will be set aside to help with expenses and recovery when the time comes for surgery. If you can’t donate, I would really appreciate it if you could share this, send any resources and/or leads on housing, that is preferably on the affordable side, if you have any. I never thought I would be in a situation like this, and I hope that when I am in a better place financially, I can pay it forward. Thank you!