Taylor Swift Eras tour: City of Toronto offers shelter to unhoused residents displaced by concert activity

The City of Toronto says unhoused individuals around the Rogers Centre area are being “referred into permanent shelter programs” in time for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour after a GoFundMe campaign started by one of the people living there began to do rounds online.

Crys Taggart, organizer of the fundraising campaign, shared their and their dog Coco’s story online as part of the GoFundMe launched to get them last-minute funds to make temporary housing arrangements in case of displacement from the area.

“The police threatened to make me break down my tent where I live with my puppy. They say we have to leave because Taylor Swift has a concert at the Rogers Center soon,” Taggart wrote on their GoFundMe page.

RELATED: City of Toronto unveils 'Taylor Swift Way' sign for charity

“Can you believe this? I'm already struggling being homeless, and now this? It's causing me and my dog so much stress and instability,” Taggart added.

However, the City of Toronto says their outreach work in Roundhouse Park had been underway prior to the posting of the GoFundMe — meaning before Taggart’s campaign gained momentum and donations began to flow in.

“As the area around Rogers Centre is expected to receive a high volume of foot traffic in the coming days, this area has been prioritized for outreach work to ensure the safety of individuals in encampments, other residents, businesses and visitors — as is standard for large-scale events,” City of Toronto spokesperson Russell Baker told Yahoo News Canada in an email response.

“Outreach staff are working to connect individuals living outside near the Rogers Centre to shelter spaces. Two individuals at Roundhouse Park have accepted referrals into spaces in the shelter system and staff are currently assisting the remaining two,” Baker added.

‘Me and my dog just got into a shelter finally’: Homeless fundraising organizer moved to a shelter space

“I'm being honest. Me and my dog just got into a shelter finally and I'm so grateful it was just in time,” Taggart wrote in a follow-up post on the campaign’s online page as they provided donors an update on their whereabouts. Taggart also used this opportunity to keep the fundraising campaign open and encouraged people to help them move to a “place of our own successfully.”

“I am hoping this doesn't discourage anyone from donating as I promise to put all the rest of the donations we received towards renting an apartment or room for ourselves in the long-term as housing will take 5 to 10 years to come through,” read Taggart’s update.

The City of Toronto told Yahoo News Canada individuals experiencing homelessness, like Taggart, are able to use the shelter services and support “for as long as required.”

The city is expecting a high volume of pedestrians near the Rogers Centre, with as many as 500,000 people estimated to be downtown during the concerts, running between Nov. 14 and Nov. 23. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour will add almost $300 million to Toronto’s economy.

‘Taylor Swift be the reason I failed’: Taggart held Swift responsible before city offered shelter

Initially helpless, Taggart didn’t know who to blame as authorities asked him to move out of his temporary home, which put Taggart in a further depressive state especially considering winter had only just begun.

“I'm not sure what will happen to me. I don't know if I can bare another winter,” Taggart noted on his GoFundMe page.

Naturally, his frustration was aimed at the artist whose arrival in the city had caused him such adversity.

“Taylor Swift is ruining my chances of being housed or sheltered by winter and I need help,” Taggart wrote on their campaign page.

“I slept on the ground please hold that Taylor Swift be the reason I failed to establish myself by winter and lose her,” Taggart aimed at Swift at another instance.

Taggart’s feelings towards Swift remained consistent throughout the campaign with their sentiments quite visible in their social media updates.

Yahoo News Canada reached out to Taggart for comment, but has received no reply.

Swift, who is a global pop star and has been on the road as part of her Eras Tour commitments, is known to do her part for charity. Swift, reportedly made multiple food bank donations during her UK shows earlier this year which resulted in more than 900 people being fed. The City of Toronto also revealed a special 'Taylor Swift Way' sign to auction off for charity after the concert dates.