In 2020, while most Canadians sheltered at home, Toronto carpenter Khaleel Seivwright saw an opportunity to help those in his city who had no home. Disturbed by the growing presence of makeshift shelters, Seivwright designed a small, insulated wooden shelter that could keep an occupant warm on cold winter nights. With the help of a GoFundMe page and many volunteers, he built dozens of these small units and placed them throughout Toronto.
The project drew widespread acclaim but staunch opposition from City officials. It also caught the attention of filmmaker Zack Russell.
Russell’s award‐winning documentary, Someone Lives Here, is the September offering in the Human Rights Through Film series. It captures Seivwright’s valiant efforts to help and the voices of people trying to survive without shelter. It also documents the ensuing battle with the City, which ordered Seivwright to stop.
Someone Lives Here runs September 22–27. A discussion with the filmmakers will follow the 7 p.m. screening on September 22.
Cinematheque will be accepting donations on behalf of Schweitzer Village for this show. Schweitzer Village’s mandate is to provide housing for the trans, non‐binary and two‐spirit homeless community, and to serve all residents with compassion and unconditional acceptance.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is proud to partner with Dave Barber Cinematheque on this screening as part of our ongoing Human Rights Through Film series.
