The City of Toronto officially recognized that housing is a human right through the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan, Toronto’s 10-year housing and homelessness plan. We are hopeful that this major step will lay the foundation for more progressive and effective housing and homelessness policies in Toronto, that prioritize the most vulnerable and put human rights at the centre of decision making.
Of course, we know the work is not over yet. We have a lot ahead of us and we’ll keep you updated on progress, emerging issues and solutions, as well as new resources.
We regularly provide policy recommendations to Toronto City Council.
Here are other actions the R2HTO has taken to advance the right to housing in Toronto:
Submission to the Budget Committee regarding the City’s 2021 Capital and Operating Budgets – Jan. 26, 2021
Submission to the Planning and Housing Committee regarding the City’s Study Work Program – Jan. 19, 2021
Submission to the Executive Committee on the Potential Design and Possible Implementation of a Vacant Home Tax in Toronto – Dec. 10. 2020
Submission to the Planning and Housing Committee on RentSafeTO (Apartment Building Standards) – Dec. 8, 2020
Submissions to the City of Toronto’s Economic and Community Development Committee – Dec. 7, 2020
Evictions Rights Review – Dec. 3, 2020
This report by the Right to Housing in Toronto Network (R2HTO) provides a review of City of Toronto policies, strategies, programs and services relating to evictions, and the City’s response to the issue of evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. R2HTO has identified tangible actions the City must take to align their eviction prevention policies, strategies, programs and services with its commitment to the progressive realization of the right to housing. Our findings are drawn from our conversations with City of Toronto staff and elected officials, as well as reports from the ground by community legal workers and grassroots tenant advocacy organizations.
A call for a moratorium on encampment evictions – Dec. 3, 2020
R2HTO has been hearing from organizations working on the ground with residents of encampments that the City of Toronto is planning to clear some encampments in the coming weeks.
We urge the City to provide safe, adequate housing for all encampment residents and, where that is not possible, safe and adequate shelter that respects the human rights and dignity of encampment residents.
Submission on the 2021 Work Plan of the City of Toronto’s Subcommittee on the Protection of Affordable Rental Housing – Nov. 23, 2020
The City’s work on supporting tenants and preserving affordable rental housing continues to move in the right direction. On November 23, R2HTO made this submission outlining our recommendations for the City’s Tenant Advisory Committee, 2021 Workplan, and the role of the Housing Commissioner.
Submission on the City of Toronto’s Proposed Framework on Multi-Tenant Houses – Nov. 17. 2020
Toronto Council Planning & Housing Committee meeting, November 17, 2020The City of Toronto’s proposed framework on multi-tenant houses reaffirms their commitment to the progressive realization of the right to housing. The pathway to achieving safe, livable and affordable multi-tenant houses starts with legalization, regulatory oversight, effective enforcement and tenant participation.
Encampments Rights Review: Report on encampments in Toronto during COVID-19 – Sept. 30, 2020
This report by the Right to Housing in Toronto Network details our concerns with the enforcement of the City’s laws and policies that relate to encampments during COVID-19, and the impact of the City’s approach on encampment residents, the right to housing, and human rights principles. Our findings are drawn from our conversations with City of Toronto staff and elected officials, as well as reports from the ground by community workers and grassroots organizations.
The report also identifies tangible actions the City must take to uphold the rights of those living in encampments, by applying eight human rights principles which have been identified in the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing’s national protocol for responding to encampments in Canada.
Deputations at Toronto Council’s Planning & Housing Committee meeting – September 22, 2020
In implementing changes to their Rules of Procedure, the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) has the opportunity to better align these Rules with the human right to adequate housing. Swift action to ensure this alignment has never been more necessary than right now, when tens of thousands of Ontario tenants are facing lost income, rental arrears, and the risk of eviction. The Right to Housing in Toronto urges the LTB to enact changes to their Rules of Procedure to protect tenants’ security of tenure, preserve affordable housing and ensure that rental housing is safe and healthy.
Submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy – Bill 184 – June 26, 2020
The Right to Housing Toronto provided a submission to the Ontario Legislature Standing Committee on Social Policy on June 26, 2020, expressing concerns with Bill 184 and urging the Ontario Government to take this opportunity to align landlord and tenant law with the right to adequate housing.
COVID-19: A Human Rights Response to the Pandemic for the City of Toronto
The Right to Housing Toronto has distilled international and domestic human rights principles into advice for the City of Toronto about how to ensure its housing and homelessness-related COVID-19 responses are grounded in human rights. You can read the full recommendations here and the summary here.
Toronto COVID-19 service updates (from the FMTA) – April 20. 2020
The Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations (FMTA) has compiled updates from service providers in the City of Toronto that often provide tenant or housing services.
Deputation re: 233 Carlton – Feb. 26, 2019
Right to Housing in Toronto deputed at the Committee of Adjustment to offer information about the City of Toronto’s commitments and obligations vis-à-vis the right to housing, in order to support and inform their decision in the application regarding 233 Carlton.
Toronto adopts a 10-year housing and homelessness plan
The City of Toronto has taken a step towards recognizing housing as a human right through the development of its new HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan. This plan, like the National Housing Strategy, is based in human rights.
On December 17, 2019, Toronto City Council became the first city in Canada to recognize the right to housing by adopting the human rights-based 10-year housing and homelessness plan.
Thank you to everyone who helped up get here!
Realizing the right to housing in Canada webinar – October 10, 2019
This webinar will help guide you through where we’ve been and where we need to go in housing in this country, and will provide you with some tools to ask important questions of your federal candidates, members of provincial parliaments, and local Councillors.