Housing

 In a decision issued on April 2, 2024, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice struck down sections of the Safe Streets Act that prohibit panhandling in certain circumstances, effective immediately.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) recently learned that on February 28, 2024, Cobourg’s Town Council passed a by-law to license and regulate Emergency Care Establishments, which will be implemented on March 28, 2024.

  May 6, 2023 Context The government of Ontario is seeking feedback on proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) which would clarify and enhance rules related to the installation of air conditioning (A/C) units.

The government of Ontario is seeking feedback on proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) which would clarify and enhance rules related to the installation of air conditioning (A/C) units.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) understands that on January 24, 2023, Aurora’s Town Council held a session to hear from the community on plans put forward by Housing York for a five-storey emergency and transitional housing shelter at 14452 Yonge St.  The OHRC also understands that Council voted against referring the proposal to the next level, and instead opted for a public planning meeting to address some of the issues raised by the community.

Ontario is facing a homelessness crisis that is leading to profound and devastating impacts on our communities. As the crisis continues into the winter season, the OHRC echoes concerns raised by local public health units, health care workers, faith leaders and advocates about the significant lack of cold weather services in Toronto, and across the province, for people experiencing homelessness.

Ontario is facing a homelessness crisis that is causing deep and devastating impacts on our communities. Informal encampments and forced evictions are a stark example of this crisis. Solutions to homelessness and informal encampments must be grounded in human rights-based approaches and delivered with respect and compassion. 

In developing rent-to-own arrangement programs, it will be crucial to focus on the important social role of homes as recognized through the Code’s specific protections against discrimination in accommodation. Every effort made to create innovative pathways to homeownership must be exercised without discrimination.3 Rent-to-own arrangements present a powerful tool to address decades of discrimination in accommodation that have prevented Code-protected groups from building generational wealth.

The OHRC is supportive of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s (MMAH) efforts to standardize rules for inclusionary zoning, and strongly encourages MMAH to take a human rights-based approach to this work. The OHRC believes this is an opportunity to strengthen inclusionary zoning to increase access to permanent affordable housing, especially for vulnerable tenants who generally are protected by the Code. As a result, the OHRC recommends there would not be any change that weakens the rules that govern inclusionary zoning.

The OHRC has launched Poverty POV (Point of View), to engage with the public, through a survey, key informant discussions and other steps, on their lived experiences with poverty, including homelessness, and mental health and addictions.