Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR)

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#HousingRights #RightToHousing

We’re excited to share that the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR) is now on Instagram!

Follow us for stories, updates, and ways to take action to support renters and advance safe, secure, and affordable housing across Canada.

For more on our recent advocacy in Ontario, see the following:

- Policy submission on Bill 60: buff.ly/vHfIubu
- Policy analysis of some of Ontario’s recent housing laws: buff.ly/ia6xk9i

The Government of Ontario’s 2026 Budget Consultations survey takes just 3–5 minutes. Share your input by January 30 to help keep the right to housing a priority: buff.ly/nCZcV1o

Many renters are struggling with high rents, few affordable homes, and insecure housing. Without strong renter protections, people in Ontario are at risk of losing their homes and experiencing homelessness.

Housing and homelessness in Ontario are at a crisis point, and your voice matters now more than ever. The Government of Ontario is developing its 2026 Budget, and this is your chance to share what matters most for safe, secure, and affordable housing.

Thank you to REST Centres for hosting CCHR at BYHES 2025 and for your leadership in advancing housing equity for Black youth.

Our Senior Legal Education Specialist, Bright Okenwa, facilitated breakout discussions on the Head Leasing Framework, where participants explored legal and regulatory considerations, equity, and community partnerships, identifying key barriers/strategies to advance housing solutions for Black youth.

She emphasized the urgent need for Ontario to create more affordable housing, preserve existing options, prevent housing from being treated primarily as an investment, and recognize a range of alternative housing approaches.

Our Director of Policy, Research and Law Reform, Margaret Flynn, led a session on the Residential Tenancies Act and models of head leasing, sharing insights on legal frameworks, equity considerations, and how policy shapes housing opportunities for Black youth.

This past November, we had the privilege of presenting and facilitating at the Black Youth Housing Equity Summit (BYHES) 2025, hosted by REST Centres.

Education & Training on the Right to Housing Training and educational opportunities on the right to housing, and how it can be protected and claimed.

In Ontario, we offer hands-on training for tenants, frontline workers, and community partners. Covering the Residential Tenancies Act, Human Rights Code, and other laws, our work teaches practical strategies to prevent eviction and protect the right to housing. Book a training today: buff.ly/j7TDLnT

At CCHR, we provide a wide range of resources to support renters across Canada. From practical guides and toolkits to comprehensive legal information, these materials help tenants navigate housing challenges, protect their homes, and make informed decisions. Explore our resources: buff.ly/F7dHuSO

On this International Day of Education, we reaffirm that education and housing are fundamental human rights. Access to knowledge empowers renters to understand and assert their rights, helping them secure safe, stable homes.

In a new commentary, Margaret Flynn, Director of Policy & Law Reform, CCHR; Anne-Rachelle Boulanger, Policy Analyst, HIV Legal Network; and Douglas Kwan, Director of Advocacy & Legal Services, ACTO, examine how provincial policies are deepening the housing and toxic drug crises: buff.ly/RgT6gjZ

Explore AMO’s full report for the full picture and recommended actions: buff.ly/avFLyzB

Read our analysis of some of Ontario's recent housing laws, their impact on encampment residents and renters, and our recommendations: buff.ly/3KOdXcT

More coordinated action from federal, provincial, and municipal governments is needed to address this systemic crisis. This includes providing immediate support to renters and people experiencing homelessness, building and protecting deeply affordable housing, and upholding housing as a human right.

These encampments highlight a worsening homelessness crisis across Ontario, growing fastest in rural and northern communities, with Indigenous people disproportionately impacted.

Thousands of people in Ontario are living in encampments, facing unsafe and unstable conditions every day. According to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)’s 2025 Homelessness Report Update, nearly 2,000 encampments now exist across Ontario, a 43% increase since 2023.

A new study from Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Urban and Regional Planning finds that financialized landlords apply to evict Black renters at disproportionately high rates. Explore the full study: buff.ly/ccfUwK0

In December, CCHR joined Toronto ACORN, Don Valley Community Legal Services, and former Toronto City Councillor Janet Davis to support tenants at 500 Dawes Road in Toronto as they took collective legal action at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) against unsafe, poorly maintained housing.

The Government of Ontario is proposing to pause inclusionary zoning in Toronto, Mississauga, and Kitchener until 2027, delaying the delivery of affordable housing in high-demand areas. You can make your voice heard. Share your feedback by Monday, January 19: buff.ly/BGUtCOx

According to AMO’s 2025 Homelessness Report Update, nearly 85,000 people in Ontario are experiencing homelessness. Immediate and coordinated action from federal, provincial, and municipal governments is essential to prevent this crisis from escalating. Read AMO’s full report: buff.ly/lgkttP8

Homelessness Crisis in Ontario Continues to Worsen | AMO New AMO data shows that 85,000 Ontarians were homeless in 2025, growing more than 8% since the release of our original groundbreaking report on homelessness one year ago

Homelessness is rising across Ontario, and municipalities are feeling the strain. The 2025 Homelessness Report Update, released by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), highlights the urgent need for coordinated action to address this growing crisis. Read the report: buff.ly/lgkttP8

Want to use your legal expertise to advance the right to housing? We’re seeking a Lawyer to provide legal advice and representation to tenants, advocate for housing rights, lead dispute resolution and mediation, and support public education and community engagement initiatives. buff.ly/cQGIgDu

In Nov., CCHR joined the City of Toronto’s National Housing Week panel on the renovictions bylaw. Our Director of Client Services, Lee Webb, spoke with experts from the City, TMU, and Don Valley Community Legal Services about how the bylaw strengthens renter protections and the impact of Bill 60.

Are you a tenant in Ontario concerned about how Bill 60 affects your housing rights?

Our new guide provides an overview of major expected changes, what remains unchanged, and the key details you need to know.

Download our guide today: buff.ly/F1omV2P

#TenantRights #Bill60

Renters in Alberta are facing a housing crisis. Expanding supply alone hasn’t solved the problem. Yutaka Dirks, our Senior Policy & Outreach Advisor, explains to Ricochet Media that much of the National Housing Strategy’s funding hasn’t helped people who can’t afford market rents: buff.ly/s527x8y

Happy New Year from all of us at the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights! As 2026 begins, we look forward to continuing our work to make safe, secure, and affordable housing a reality for all in Canada. Thank you for being part of this journey.

This year, thousands of renters had somewhere to turn for information, legal guidance & advocacy. That work is possible because of community support and it continues because people choose to stand up for housing rights. Continuing support our work here: buff.ly/VT80F8J