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Re-Forming Established: 1990
Toronto Catholic Worker
Toronto, Ontario,
Canada
(Near Jameson and the Gardiner Expressway.)
 We are a 16 year-old community in the west end of Toronto, Ontario. We live in 6 adjoining households with a total of about 19 people, aged 1 to 60+. There are also up to 7 guests and three very unique cats.
Zacchaeus House is a "house of hospitality" where people who need a supportive home temporarily, live with people who have made a commitment to the community. (Starting March 2007, 7Haus will not be providing hospitality for a couple of years, while the incoming tenants give it some badly-needed TLC.)
Our other households consist of families with young children, older/original community members, and people who help support the hospitality efforts. Most people in them are doing various kinds of studies or work.
The 70-year-old Catholic Worker tradition (which we believe we can best try to live out 'in community'), is one of prayer, hospitality, nonviolent resistance to oppression, and clarification of thought.
Our collective activities include worship, gardening, written word, community meals and celebrations, protest, formal and informal discussions, games nights, and support each other in our individual pursuits and struggles.
Our common liturgy is Christian, but our individual beliefs are diverse. What we have in common includes an interest in PEACE and in SOCIAL JUSTICE. Many of our guests have been refugee applicants, American soldiers refusing to fight in the illegal war in Iraq, their families, people needing a 'dry' house or one free of violence, those in health crises (but who can manage stairs), travelers, and young career-changers, among others.
We welcome visitors. Please call if you wish to stay overnight, help out, or just to make sure someone will be around for you to connect with. (Our hospitality workers obtain part-time employment to try to cover our rent, utilities, food.)
We look forward to hearing from you.
Newsletter requests, inquiries about what donations would be useful at present to support the hospitality work, offers to help with the garden or cook a community meal, and your presence at liturgies or community meals, are definitely welcome.
 
Website: http://www.catholicworker.org/communities/commlistall.cfm#Canada
Contact:
5 Close Ave
Toronto, Ontario M6K 2V2 Canada
Phone: 416-516-8198
Send an Email
Former/Other Names: Zacchaeus House, 7Haus, possibly Room for Hope
Last Updated:2/17/2007
 
Visitors Accepted
Visitor Process: Please email or call ahead, as most members work part time and may not be around to receive 'drop- in' visitors.
Network Affiliations:
Catholic Worker
Population
Adult Members:
15
Child Members:
5
Non-member Residents:
5
Open to new adults:
Yes
(Possibly a hospitality worker.)
Open to new children:
Yes
(More playmates for our five and Junia House's three! (Six of whom are under five))
Gender Balance:
40% M 60% F
(As of February 2007.)
Open to which gender(s):
All genders welcome
Age Focus:
No Focus
(No, but hospitality workers tend to be in their later 20's or early 30's, for the right balance of experience and energy or connectivity to guests (most of whom are 20-40).)
Government
Decision Making:
Other
(Depends on scope and nature of decision to be made. Some are unilateral, some involve many, with an attempt at consensus.)
Identified Leader:
No
(Founders yes, leaders, no.)
Labor and Money
Financial Style:
Other
(Hospitality workers pool money to pay bills, rent. Each family or person is otherwise responsible for own arrangements.)
Open to Members with Pre-existing Debt:
No Answer
(Irrelevant, unless it means you can't pay your share of the rent, since we don't own the properties; merely rent them. There is no 'buy-in'.)
Labor Contribution:
(Free-form. one person looks after coordionating payment of hospitality house bills, another may be called upon to help out with childcare, another invites people for tea and debriefing....)
Join Fee:
No
Regular Fees:
No
(This is going to be coming under review in 2007, as there is a desire to build a small contingency and repairs fund.)
Land and Buildings
Urban
(We are located in Toronto, across the road from an expressway and train tracks, and within 5 minutes of two streetcar lines and a bus route, all connecting to the subway system.)
Area:
0 acres (0.0 hectares)
(What our houses sit on, some parking spaces, front yards for each house and two back yards. A portion of one block.)
Land Owned By:
An absentee landlord
(Landlord progressively buying up the block for future development; already own 12 houses, approximately 10-12 remaining.)
Number of Residences:
5
(One contains two separate family apartments.)
Food, etc.
Percentage of Food Grown:
6-20%
(We garden vegetables in 3-4 of our yards.)
Share Community Meals:
1-3 times/month
(At times, has been several times per week.)
Dietary Choice or Restrictions:
Other
(Omnivorous, with a vegetarian option usually available at community meals.)
Dietary Practice:
Other
(Combination of omnivorous, vegetarian, vegan, raw foods, (and instant/junk foods))
Alcohol Use:
Prohibited
(Prohibited in hospitality houses (use and storage).)
Tobacco Use:
Used Occasionally
(Outside only, usually in covered porch with couch on it.)
Social Factors
Open to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender members:
Yes
Shared Spiritual Path:
Yes
Which Spiritual Path(s):
Protestant/Lutheran
:: Roman Catholic
Educational Style(s):
Public schooled
 
 


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