Richard Todd, singer-songwriter and guitarist for Toronto band Redpath Traffic, has accepted a Community Service Award in the Arts & Culture Leaders category for spearheading his ensemble project, Artists Against Homelessness. The award was presented by Chris Glover, MPP for Spadina Fort-York, at his annual Community Recognition Ceremony.
“This award acknowledges the work we’re doing to help end homelessness in our communities,” Todd says. “But it also underscores how much work there is still to do.”
At the center of the project is Todd’s song, The Forgotten Homeless, which tells the heart-wrenching stories of people struggling while living on the street. A dozen indie artists appear with Todd on this We Are The World-style production, including Anna Goldsmith, Shari Tallon, Chris Birkett, David Moses, Michael Quattro, Sarah Siddiqui, Luciana Santaguida, Chatrisse Dolabaille and Signe Miranda, along with Osaze Dolabaille, Esmaeel Abofakher and Rahaf Alakbani.
The homelessness crisis in Toronto has reached a critical point, with more than 8,000 people experiencing homelessness every night. These individuals often find shelter in the city, while many more grapple with “hidden homelessness,” relying on the generosity of relatives, friends, or strangers with little sense of stability. The problem is exacerbated by Toronto’s severe lack of affordable housing. The wait for supportive housing is several years long, forcing families to spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing, leaving less for necessities like food and medication.
In response, Todd teamed up with WoodGreen Community Services, one of Toronto’s largest social services organizations, to address this urgent problem with creating The Forgotten Homeless charity single with his cast of all-star collaborators. Streaming royalties from the song are being donated to WoodGreen Community Services’ UNMET Needs campaign.
Check out The Forgotten Homeless below.
