The Blantyre/Hunt Club Residents' Association is taking our concerns about the shelter siting process to court.

Earlier this summer, we were informed that another community group in Etobicoke - Albion Gardens Neighbourhood Community Association (AGNECA) - had retained a lawyer to fight in court a supportive housing project proposed in their neighborhood. AGNECA'S legal challenge is based on similar concerns that our community shared that the City's process to skip consultation with communities, their secrecy about planned locations, and their failure to consult with communities on alternative locations is just wrong. As it turns out, it may be unlawful too. We have been in touch with the law firm leading AGNECA's case, Eric Gillespie Professional Corporation, about supporting this case. Several other community groups opposing shelter locations in their areas have joined the fight as well.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We are raising funds to cover the legal bill we’ve received for preparing an affidavit (a statement of facts) for the AGNECA challenge, and any further legal fees for this promising legal fight - and we need your support.

Our initial fundraising goal is $5,000 and we are seeking donations. Suggested donations are $50, $100, or $250 - but you are welcome and encouraged to donate whatever you can at this time. Our goal is to have the funds raised by October 10.

If you're interested in more information about the legal fight, here are some Q & A's:

Is there legal precedent for this challenge?

Yes, there is a Superior Court of Canada case (Brown) that establishes rules of procedural fairness that governments and authorities (including municipal governments) must follow in their decisions related to the public that we will argue is applicable to this situation.

How would supporting AGNECA's case help us with our shelter fight?

While AGNECA is the main plaintiff in the challenge, other community groups are cited as being impacted. If the lawyers can successfully make the argument that the City's process is not procedurally fair on the AGNECA case, it could impact ALL of the sites that followed this unfair process.

Who is the law firm, Eric Gillespie Professional Corporation?

Eric Gillespie has been a lawyer in Toronto for years and has had success with similar community-based legal challenges in the past such as a class-action lawsuit against Toronto Police for arrests of G20 protesters.

G20 class-action lawsuits against Toronto police over 'kettling' get go-ahead: CBC News