Please help the residences of 828 Shaw Street
Donation protected
UPDATE: THIS GOFUNDME IS NOW CLOSED - All tenants have been given the opportunity to receive their share of the distribution. Anything deposited to this GoFundMe from this point forward will be refunded to the donor as the tenants have already received distribution. I am posting the closing of the GoFundMe again at the top as one of the tenants felt it necessary to deposit funds to this GoFundMe yesterday after distribution, and after being notified of it being closed. Please do not donate as no additional funds will be going to the tenants of 828 Shaw Street - Updated 2-22-22
UPDATE: This fundraiser is now closed. Thank you very much for everyone's generous donations.
Funds have been released to 19 of the 20 tenants, as one of the tenants has refused to sign the release form to receive their funds. The tenant will have till the end of the month being 2-28-22 to claim these funds. If at that time they still refuse to sign the release letter, or do not make arrangements to pick up the funds, that portion of the GoFundMe will be returned to original donators so as to close any financial obligation I have to the tenants of 828 Shaw Street relating to this GoFundMe .
The distribution of funds were as follows:
Total Raised - $46,947.00
Walmart $1,190.29
Transit $412.00
Telephone $113.00
Bank/GoFundMe Fees $1,825.96
Total to be distribued to tenants $43,405.75
Tenants - $2,170.28 Each
Thank you to this community for everything you’ve given to date, and to everyone who has reached out with additional offers of goods and help to the tenants of 828 Shaw Street after the devastating fire on January 15th.
I have updated our fundraiser to share more information about how your generous donations will be used, as well as an important update on the tenants and their situation.
Please visit 828shawfirehelp.com to donate items or volunteer your time - the response from neighbours and friends from the community has been incredible, and has already made a big difference for these people.
JAN. 31st: UPDATE ON TENANTS:
Fire destroyed the residence of 828 Shaw Street in the early morning of January 15, 2022. All residents of the building have been displaced, and need immediate assistance to get them into housing, and basic necessities. Many are low income, without tenant insurance, and have had to leave with only the belongings on their backs.
The survivors of the fire at 828 Shaw continue to be put in an impossible position. Some are still healing from serious injuries, including one still in hospital. Some are still processing the event. Some are managing the shock and trauma of the fire alongside mental health issues that make it hard to work through what’s next.
On Friday January 28th tenants were shocked to be notified that the landlord for 828 Shaw would be overseeing their housing and support. They were given less than 24 hours to move to a new location and adjust their lives. Food and grocery support was stopped immediately. They are only supported until February 5th and unclear what’s next. They need our support now more than ever.
All will need to replace their entire households, starting from scratch after this terrible event.
WHO I AM AND WHY I’M HELPING:
My close friend lived at 828 Shaw and is one of the survivors of the fire on January 15th.
I have been a witness to issues in this building for years – including the time I personally fixed the plumbing because my friend and her daughter were without running water for six weeks.
I heard how scared she was after the fire just days before January 15th changed her life. I knew stories of others in the building. I knew that after the fire, all of them, like her, would be starting their lives again.
And so I set up this gofundme so that other caring neighbours could help them rebuild.
Since then, I have been working with a small group of generous volunteers to:
· support tenants’ urgent needs
· collect and distribute donation of items
· advocate with municipal and provincial government
· raise awareness with media to keep attention on this situation
Some households need more help, some are being supported by friends and family, and some are still coming to terms with what they need. I have been doing what I can to fill the gaps and help however I can.
HOW THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED AND DISTRIBUTED:
This fund are being used as follows:
1) Up to a maximum of 10% for urgent and immediate needs, distributed equally where possible and in response to urgent individual/family needs in the following categories. To date we have spent approximately $2,000 on:
· Food and groceries
· Personal items and toiletries – deodorant, denture cream, razors, toothpaste
· Transit - 6 x $50 Presto transit cards for tenants who now need transit to work/attend school
· Communication – including $100 cellular phone payment for a tenant to ensure they were not cut off during this crisis
· Urgently needed clothing and footwear – including underwear and footwear for basic mobility
2) The remaining 90%+ will be distributed equally to all 20 tenants to setup their new homes.
We will distribute equally to all residents (20 people total across 13 households) as cheques.
Our distribution schedule is set as follows:
· The total raised as of February 1st at midnight will be withdrawn and distributed in full to all tenants as cheques, after urgent expenses already paid have been covered (exact delivery of funds TBD depending on gofundme processing and banking delays)
· The total raised as of February 15th at midnight will be withdrawn and divided equally across all residents as cheques (exact delivery of funds TBD depending on gofundme processing and banking delays).
3) We hope to meet our goal and close the gofundme by on March 1st at which point all remaining funds will be distributed in a final payout, again equally to all residents.
4) These funds will be used at tenants' discretion to cover everything needed to set up their new permanent homes, remembering that each household lost everything they had in this fire. We will of course be supporting with donated items and other assistance, and helping to mobilize community support.
5) How funds will be withdrawn:
· Because this fundraiser supports multiple households we will be withdrawing into a single personal bank account and distributing the funds equally and directly to tenants from there.
· This is a recommended and standard approach to distributing funds across multiple recipients
· We are in contact with every household and will make sure that each receives their cheque. We will provide confirmation of this.
JAN 15th FUNDRAISING MESSAGE:
Fire destroyed the residence of 828 Shaw Street in the early morning of January 15, 2022. All residents of the building have been displaced, and need immediate assistance to get them into housing, and basic necessities. Many are low income, without tenant insurance, and have had to leave with only the belongings on their backs.
The landlord’s daughter is supplying contact information for the tenants, but will not be involved in fund distribution in any way, and will not have any access to any of the money raised. 100% of funds will go directly to the tenants, and I will be transparent about exactly how and to whom funds are distributed (while respecting tenant privacy and personal information.
I have friends who live in this building, and who have been directly affected by this fire. Please assist, these are our neighbors, and they need us more than ever right now!!!
UPDATE: This fundraiser is now closed. Thank you very much for everyone's generous donations.
Funds have been released to 19 of the 20 tenants, as one of the tenants has refused to sign the release form to receive their funds. The tenant will have till the end of the month being 2-28-22 to claim these funds. If at that time they still refuse to sign the release letter, or do not make arrangements to pick up the funds, that portion of the GoFundMe will be returned to original donators so as to close any financial obligation I have to the tenants of 828 Shaw Street relating to this GoFundMe .
The distribution of funds were as follows:
Total Raised - $46,947.00
Walmart $1,190.29
Transit $412.00
Telephone $113.00
Bank/GoFundMe Fees $1,825.96
Total to be distribued to tenants $43,405.75
Tenants - $2,170.28 Each
Thank you to this community for everything you’ve given to date, and to everyone who has reached out with additional offers of goods and help to the tenants of 828 Shaw Street after the devastating fire on January 15th.
I have updated our fundraiser to share more information about how your generous donations will be used, as well as an important update on the tenants and their situation.
Please visit 828shawfirehelp.com to donate items or volunteer your time - the response from neighbours and friends from the community has been incredible, and has already made a big difference for these people.
JAN. 31st: UPDATE ON TENANTS:
Fire destroyed the residence of 828 Shaw Street in the early morning of January 15, 2022. All residents of the building have been displaced, and need immediate assistance to get them into housing, and basic necessities. Many are low income, without tenant insurance, and have had to leave with only the belongings on their backs.
The survivors of the fire at 828 Shaw continue to be put in an impossible position. Some are still healing from serious injuries, including one still in hospital. Some are still processing the event. Some are managing the shock and trauma of the fire alongside mental health issues that make it hard to work through what’s next.
On Friday January 28th tenants were shocked to be notified that the landlord for 828 Shaw would be overseeing their housing and support. They were given less than 24 hours to move to a new location and adjust their lives. Food and grocery support was stopped immediately. They are only supported until February 5th and unclear what’s next. They need our support now more than ever.
All will need to replace their entire households, starting from scratch after this terrible event.
WHO I AM AND WHY I’M HELPING:
My close friend lived at 828 Shaw and is one of the survivors of the fire on January 15th.
I have been a witness to issues in this building for years – including the time I personally fixed the plumbing because my friend and her daughter were without running water for six weeks.
I heard how scared she was after the fire just days before January 15th changed her life. I knew stories of others in the building. I knew that after the fire, all of them, like her, would be starting their lives again.
And so I set up this gofundme so that other caring neighbours could help them rebuild.
Since then, I have been working with a small group of generous volunteers to:
· support tenants’ urgent needs
· collect and distribute donation of items
· advocate with municipal and provincial government
· raise awareness with media to keep attention on this situation
Some households need more help, some are being supported by friends and family, and some are still coming to terms with what they need. I have been doing what I can to fill the gaps and help however I can.
HOW THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED AND DISTRIBUTED:
This fund are being used as follows:
1) Up to a maximum of 10% for urgent and immediate needs, distributed equally where possible and in response to urgent individual/family needs in the following categories. To date we have spent approximately $2,000 on:
· Food and groceries
· Personal items and toiletries – deodorant, denture cream, razors, toothpaste
· Transit - 6 x $50 Presto transit cards for tenants who now need transit to work/attend school
· Communication – including $100 cellular phone payment for a tenant to ensure they were not cut off during this crisis
· Urgently needed clothing and footwear – including underwear and footwear for basic mobility
2) The remaining 90%+ will be distributed equally to all 20 tenants to setup their new homes.
We will distribute equally to all residents (20 people total across 13 households) as cheques.
Our distribution schedule is set as follows:
· The total raised as of February 1st at midnight will be withdrawn and distributed in full to all tenants as cheques, after urgent expenses already paid have been covered (exact delivery of funds TBD depending on gofundme processing and banking delays)
· The total raised as of February 15th at midnight will be withdrawn and divided equally across all residents as cheques (exact delivery of funds TBD depending on gofundme processing and banking delays).
3) We hope to meet our goal and close the gofundme by on March 1st at which point all remaining funds will be distributed in a final payout, again equally to all residents.
4) These funds will be used at tenants' discretion to cover everything needed to set up their new permanent homes, remembering that each household lost everything they had in this fire. We will of course be supporting with donated items and other assistance, and helping to mobilize community support.
5) How funds will be withdrawn:
· Because this fundraiser supports multiple households we will be withdrawing into a single personal bank account and distributing the funds equally and directly to tenants from there.
· This is a recommended and standard approach to distributing funds across multiple recipients
· We are in contact with every household and will make sure that each receives their cheque. We will provide confirmation of this.
JAN 15th FUNDRAISING MESSAGE:
Fire destroyed the residence of 828 Shaw Street in the early morning of January 15, 2022. All residents of the building have been displaced, and need immediate assistance to get them into housing, and basic necessities. Many are low income, without tenant insurance, and have had to leave with only the belongings on their backs.
The landlord’s daughter is supplying contact information for the tenants, but will not be involved in fund distribution in any way, and will not have any access to any of the money raised. 100% of funds will go directly to the tenants, and I will be transparent about exactly how and to whom funds are distributed (while respecting tenant privacy and personal information.
I have friends who live in this building, and who have been directly affected by this fire. Please assist, these are our neighbors, and they need us more than ever right now!!!
Organizer
Gloria Britstone
Organizer
Toronto, ON
