Refugees and asylum seekers and refugees that were camped out in the streets of downtown Toronto anticipating shelter and housing have been temporarily moved to a church in North York.

Many people had been living in tents situated along Richmond and Peter streets outside a city intake centre owing to an ongoing funding battle between Toronto and the federal government.

The city previously said shelters were already filled to capacity and it recently changed its policy in respect of asylum seekers, referring them to the federal government instead of paying for their shelter spaces.

The deadlock between governments over responsibility for refugees has made people arriving at Pearson International Airport stranded on the streets of Toronto in the hot sun or rain while they await temporary housing.

Recently, with the help of community members and advocates, close to 200 refugees were moved to Revivaltime Tabernacle Downsview on Dufferin Street just south of Finch.

While talking to Global News, Judith James, pastor at Revivaltime Tabernacle Downsview, said she hopes to hear from the government soon.

She said: “I hope that they call us. I hope they want to hear from us, about us. I hope that they want to understand what it’s really taking to take care of these people and that they will do what’s right.”

She added that the local community wants to ensure the new arrivals are housed and they are taken care of so “their human dignity is restored.”

She said: “This is a temporary solution to a very big problem. It’s a Band-Aid really.”

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