[homeles_ot-l] Great news FW: Commission launches housing report / La Commission publie un rapport sur le logement

[Lynne Browne]

Hello all, 

This is a very welcome report; you’ll find information about homelessness
throughout, i.e., “The lack of coordinated actions on behalf of all levels
of government to eliminate homelessness and to provide sufficient levels of
adequate and affordable housing to meet the needs of Code protected groups
and individuals was a concern for many. Housing strategies aimed at
addressing homelessness and increasing access to affordable housing in
Ontario must be consistent with international human rights obligations, the
Code and applicable human rights principles. . . . A number of consultees,
including the Alliance to End Homelessness, linked the risk of homelessness
to the growing gap between social assistance or wages earned in minimum wage
jobs and the poverty line.”

Lynne Browne

 


Commission launches report calling for collective housing strategy


For immediate publication 

July 8, 2008


Toronto - Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall and the Ontario Human Rights
Commission today launched “HYPERLINK
"http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/discussion_consultation/housingconsultat
ionreport"Right at home: Report on the consultation on human rights and
rental housing in Ontario.” This report, which follows a year of public
sessions, meetings and submissions involving hundreds of individuals and
organizations across the province, focuses on housing as a human right, and
sets out a framework for collective action to identify, remove and prevent
discrimination in rental housing. 

The Commission heard how tenants are affected by issues such as adults only
rental ads, discriminatory attitudes and applicant screening requirements
including large rent deposits or requests for guarantors for some tenants
based on Code grounds such as gender, race or ancestry. Many tenants,
housing providers and decision-makers also spoke about the challenges
arising from the duty to accommodate because of disability or family status.

A pervasive lack of awareness around domestic and international human rights
and obligations in housing was also reported. Poverty was identified as a
systemic factor that affects the ability of a wide range of tenants
protected under Ontario’s Human Rights Code to find and keep rental housing.
For some tenants, the lack of affordable housing, low social assistance
rates and minimum wage rates and discrimination contribute to homelessness –
an international human rights issue. The Commission also heard repeatedly
how many tenants across the province, particularly individuals with mental
illness, are negatively affected by “not-in-my-backyard” or NIMBY opposition
to affordable housing.

“Right at home” includes 37 recommended actions for various levels of
government, decision-makers such as housing tribunals and boards, partners
in affordable housing development, social housing providers, private-market
housing providers, service providers, tenant organizations and human rights
advocates

“While we need a national housing strategy, all sectors at all levels must
take collective and meaningful steps now” said Chief Commissioner Hall. “The
Commission is ready to do its part using its new mandate. This Report is
just the beginning of our commitment to help make human rights lived rights
for tenants across Ontario.” 

Visit the Commission’s website www.ohrc.on.ca to view HYPERLINK
"http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/discussion_consultation/housingconsultat
ionreport"the Report and HYPERLINK
"http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/issues/housing"other related information. 


Backgrounders


*	HYPERLINK
"http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/news/e_bg1_housing-consultation-report"B
ackgrounder #1: The consultation on human rights and rental housing 
*	HYPERLINK
"http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/news/e_bg2_housing-consultation-report"B
ackgrounder #2: The human side of rental housing 
*	HYPERLINK
"http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/news/e_bg3_housing-consultation-report"B
ackgrounder #3: Poverty, housing and international human rights 
*	HYPERLINK
"http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/news/e_bg4_housing-consultation-report"B
ackgrounder #4: Discrimination and rental housing 
*	HYPERLINK
"http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/news/e_bg5_housing-consultation-report"B
ackgrounder #5: Human rights and not-in-my-back-yard (NIMBY) opposition to
affordable housing

- 30 -

Afroze Edwards, Sr. Communications Officer
Policy & Education Branch
(416) 314-4528
afroze.edwards at ohrc.on.ca

Jeff Poirier
Manager, Communications
Ontario Human Rights Commission
(416)314-4539
jeff.poirier at ohrc.on.ca

 

Lynne Browne 
Coordinator, Alliance to End Homelessness 
147 Besserer Street, Ottawa ON  K1N 6A7 
613-241-7913 x 205, lbrowne at ysb.on.ca 
www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca 

 

   _____  

From: news at ohrc.on.ca [mailto:news at ohrc.on.ca] 
Sent: July 8, 2008 2:01 PM
To: news/OHRC.ON.CA at OHRC.ON.CA
Subject: Commission launches housing report / La Commission publie un
rapport sur le logement

 


Commission launches report calling for collective housing strategy 
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en 

La Commission publie un rapport visant une stratégie conjointe de logement 
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/fr

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