Someone Lives Here

Throughout the COVID pandemic, Toronto has seen a catastrophic increase in homelessness. Sick of seeing his city unable to care for its unhoused people, Khaleel Seivwright quit his job as a full-time carpenter and dedicated himself to building insulated shelters—called ’tiny shelters.’ Innovatively using body temperature for heating, Khaleel’s efforts garnered international media attention, leading Toronto to propose a possible partnership—only to reverse its decision a week later. Capturing the ups and downs of Khaleel’s brilliant intervention, Someone Lives Here also features the voices of those experiencing homelessness, including the articulate and philosophical Taka. The film poignantly captures the City of Toronto’s costly $1.9 million clearance of Toronto’s park encampments, asking all the right questions: what makes Toronto unable and unwilling to address this humanitarian crisis? Why are people like Khaleel being prevented from trying to find solutions? Who do we prioritize in this city? A sobering and maddening watch.

A panel discussion/Q&A will follow the screening.

Keynote Speaker: Alexandra Flynn, Associate Professor, Peter A. Allard School of Law and Director, Housing Research Collaborative, UBC

Panelists:
Alexandra Flynn, Associate Professor, Peter A. Allard School of Law and Director, Housing Research Collaborative, UBC
Khaleel Seivwright, Film Subject, Somone Lives Here
Fiona York, CRAB Park Advocate
CRAB Park Resident
Moderator: Kari Michaels, Executive Vice President, BCGEU