Re: Merry Xmas, and get the hell out, Dec. 9

Joe Fiorito presents a one-sided view of how Toronto Community Housing takes action to resolve issues where tenants have excessive belongings in their units. The date on the notice provided to the tenant in the story was unfortunate and regrettable. But I want to assure your readers that we would never take such action against this tenant, or any other tenant, on Christmas Day.

Our dilemma is in finding ways to help tenants tackle a serious problem such as excessive belongings,which affects every person in the building, when they refuse to admit they have a problem and will not accept help even though it puts their own well-being and the safety of others at risk.

Toronto Community Housing makes repeated attempts to meet face-to-face with tenants to explain the health and safety risks involved. It is only after a tenant repeatedly refuses help that we would issue a notice of termination.

In doing so, our goal is to get the tenant to grasp the seriousness of the situation and, through a mediated agreement, accept the supports being offered. This occurs through an independent review by the Landlord and Tenant Board, which weighs all the facts and considers the best interests of the tenant.