Dion Oxford

Chair of The Salvation Army Territorial Anti-Human Trafficking Network

Areas of Expertise
Homelessness
Poverty
Addiction
Community Development

Bio and Experience
Dion Oxford is the founding and current Director of The Salvation Army Gateway, a 108-bed shelter for single men and a drop-in centre for men and women in downtown Toronto. In that role, he works on the frontlines battling poverty in Canada for the country’s largest direct social services provider outside of the government. He is a widely respected advocate for disadvantaged Canadians and regularly travels the country educating the public about issues related to the poor. Mr. Oxford earned a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Education from Tyndale University College and is currently finishing his Master’s Degree at Wycliffe College in Toronto.

Authority on Homelessness
17-year veteran of working with the homeless community in Canada

Authority and regular speaker and writer on issues of poverty, homelessness and addiction

Featured in The Globe and Mail, National Post, Toronto Star and in the National Film Board documentary, Salvation

Advocate for the poor
“After spending the bulk of my adult life working with people who are far below the poverty line, I have concluded that poverty issues in our society have almost nothing to do with money and almost everything to do with our culture’s almost complete lack of understanding of what the word ‘community’ really means. As a result, vulnerable people are being left behind.”

Proponent of community capacity development – a hand up not a hand out
“I’ve learned the hard way over time that if all we ever ask someone is ‘What do you need?’ that person will think of themselves as needy. This often creates an attitude of entitlement and codependence, which is ultimately a deep form of oppression and injustice. When we ask, ‘What can you give?’ the person begins to remember they have value and have the capacity to contribute to society.”

On the “changing face of homelessness” in Canada
“More than half of the people that we see at Gateway are men who are experiencing short-term homelessness. This should be a startling statistic for anyone. What it means is that the housing and job markets are so fragile that many people experiencing homelessness in Canada today are those who simply cannot find the means to pay the rent.”

Founding Director of The Salvation Army Gateway Shelter in downtown Toronto. The Gateway Shelter...
Has served the community for the past seven years
Serves men, women and children in need of short-term assistance
Helps 200 people get off the street and into more suitable housing in an average year
Supplies 300 meals per day
Provides counseling and case management (addictions, anger management, self-esteem issues)

Mr. Oxford is available for media interviews, speaking engagements and other appearances. To contact Mr. Oxford, please call or email Andrew Burditt with The Salvation Army at (416) 422-6208 or Andrew_Burditt@can.salvationarmy.org.