It’s a cold, hard fact. Since 2021, the homeless population of Toronto has more than doubled from 7,300 to 15,400 people, according to the 2024 City Needs Assessment that was conducted by the City of Toronto.
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Richard Todd got a vivid example of that cold, hard fact one night when he was performing a gig with his band Redpath Traffic at a downtown Toronto bar.
“That night, a young man went onstage with his guitar and performed a set that showed how talented he really was. After he finished the set, he asked the audience if they had a couch or a spare bed where he could sleep that night, because he was homeless. That was a real eye-opener, because it proved that homelessness can affect anyone,” he said during a recent phone interview.
“That moment inspired me to put together a song about homelessness and bring together a number of Toronto-based independent artists to record it. It was my way of utilizing my musical talents and those of other artists to deal with this crisis; it shows no signs of slowing,” he added. “The problem has also extended to towns in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) such as Guelph and Waterloo. It’s a growing crisis.”
The end result is the Forgotten Homeless and Artists Against Homelessness, a combination musical and social campaign that has Toronto’s music and advocacy communities joining together to combat one of the city’s most urgent issues, homelessness and lack of proper housing.
This important initiative comprises an original song that was written by Todd and features the talents of such artists as Chris Birkett, Sarah Siddiqui, David Moses, Anna Goldsmith, Luciana Santaguida, Michael Quattro, and Shari Tallon, to name a few, and is available for streaming. There is also an accompanying music video. The video, along with Todd’s guitar and the original handwritten lyric sheet of the song, are currently on display at the City of Toronto’s Market Gallery exhibition “At Home in Toronto”, which runs until November 30.
All streaming royalties from the project will benefit the UNMET Needs Campaign of WoodGreen Community Services, in order to support individuals who are experiencing homelessness.
“WoodGreen is Toronto’s largest social agency. They house people who need support and help them find housing,” he said. “They get them back on their feet and off the streets so that they remain safe and warm. It’s a great program.”
Todd is amazed how much positive feedback the song is receiving, as well as the increasing attendance to the exhibition, and firmly believes that the power of music can increase awareness of vital issues that can affect everybody, not to mention spur people on to do something to help stem the growing number of homeless people.
“It’s great how someone can get engaged and help out by simply streaming the song or watching the video at least once,” he said. “I hope the song has a long-term effect for this cause. There is a desperate need to get people off the streets. What Artists Against Homelessness is doing is a wonderful way for the creative community to raise awareness of vital issues that affect the general public at large.”
For more information, check out WoodGreen.org, or the Artists Against Homelessness Facebook page.
by Stuart Nulman
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