Toronto's Homeless Face Life's Greatest Fear

Surveys about our fears commonly show fear of speaking or performing in front of an audience at the top of the list.

This December 3rd, for the second time in 2017, clients of Haven Toronto will face this greatest fear head-on when they perform onstage during ‘Improv Haven’, a fundraiser for the drop-in centre.

For weeks now, members of NOTORIOUS have been hosting improv workshops for elder homeless men at Haven Toronto. Taking what they have learned, these clients will perform as a troupe at the Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor Street West.

What gives these homeless men the strength to face one of life’s greatest fears? Maybe getting up in front of a group is easy compared to sleeping outdoors, unprotected from nature and the abuse of others.

‘Improv Haven’ is part of Hurts To Laugh, three nights of comedy – Improv, Stand-Up and Mime – featuring two laugh out loud shows for one terrific cause.

Hurts To Laugh also includes 'A Stand-Up Cause' featuring comedian, writer and producer, Daryn Jones of The Mercer Report and MTV Live.

Daryn will be joined on December 7th at the Comedy Bar by Tim Steeves (The Mercer Report), Aisha Brown (The Beaverton, Just For Laughs), Chris Locke (Just For Laughs, Laugh Sabbath), Arthur Simeon (Just For Laughs, The Debaters, HBO) and Sandra Battaglini (CBC, NBC).

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Proceeds support Toronto’s elder homeless, marginally housed and socially isolated men age 50+.

Open 365 days a year from 8am to 5pm, Haven Toronto provides access to crisis and housing counsellors, on-site nurses, dental hygienists and barbers, and 3 nutritious meals a day plus emergency clothing, showers, laundry and more. Last year, Haven Toronto served over 45000 meals and distributed over 9600 articles of emergency clothing. Learn more at www.hurtstolaugh.ca.