In October 2020, a carpenter named Khaleel Seivwright drove to a remote area of a Toronto park to build a small, insulated shelter. On the front of the shelter, he posted two signs: “Anyone is Welcome,” and the details of a GoFundMe page dedicated to raising money to build more. His idea is simple: to provide unhoused people outside in the winter with tiny, insulated shelter that would keep them safe and warm.

The project soon attracted international attention. With Toronto’s homeless population rising, and a long winter approaching, many deem his shelters a life-saving measure. Donations to the GoFundMe surged. Before long, city officials take issue, and send Khaleel a cease and desist letter. Undeterred, Khaleel continues building and does his best to convince the world that his shelters are a viable interim measure for people living outside in the cold. 

SOMEONE LIVES HERE follows the story of Khaleel, his tiny shelters, and their residents, over the course of one brutal Toronto winter. Featuring a diverse cast of characters – including government officials, city staff, former Toronto mayor John Tory, tiny shelter residents, and community advocates. 

Narrated by Taka, a woman living in one of Khaleel’s tiny shelters in Toronto’s Alexandra Park, SOMEONE LIVES HERE captures an important chapter in the battle for the soul of a city.