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.

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.

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

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

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 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

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

amo.on.ca

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

Housing rights work requires long-term commitment. Building on over 40 years of experience, our strategic plan outlines how we’re advancing housing as a human right - with a focus on lasting impact, accountability and systems-level change. Read the plan: buff.ly/GYp7y7M

Happy Holidays from all of us at the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights! As 2025 comes to a close, we want to thank you for standing with us this year. Your support helps advance the right to housing for everyone across Canada. Wishing you a joyful and festive holiday season!

Knowing your rights and documenting what’s happening can make a real difference. In our latest Five Questions for Change, Julie Matheson, lawyer at the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, shares practical advice for renters. Read the full interview here - buff.ly/wC2JaHQ

Winter raises an important question for renters across Ontario: who is responsible for clearing snow and ice at rental properties? Lee Webb, our Director of Client Services, explains the answer to NOW Toronto. Read the full article: buff.ly/YIhzr6n

Feeling overwhelmed by rental rules & eviction processes? Bill 60 brings important changes that could affect how quickly issues move at the LTB. Here is a guide to help tenants in Ontario gain insights on their rights under Bill 60. Read here: buff.ly/2rI3IZN

Several of our printable resources for renters in Ontario are now available in Arabic, Russian, and Ukrainian. These guides explain the basics of rental housing laws in Ontario and are designed to help you understand your rights. Download the resources at: buff.ly/5BsdjZO

Toronto is facing an ongoing housing/homelessness crisis, and multi-tenant houses (MTHs) remain one of the only deeply affordable options for renters. We recently submitted recommendations to the City, supporting Right to Housing Toronto’s advocacy to strengthen the MTH framework: buff.ly/Ge9zvDH

On Human Rights Day, a reminder: The housing crisis is a human rights crisis. Read our reflection on what needs to change in 2025: buff.ly/xoUQup5 #HumanRights #RightToHousing

Recently, we had the privilege of participating in the second annual Indigenous housing provider capacity-building event, hosted by the National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc (NICHI). Together with our partners, we’re committed to advancing the right to housing for everyone across Canada.

On the National Day of Remembrance for Violence Against Women, we honour lives lost and highlight the Neha Review findings: 250 witnesses, including women, Two Spirit, Trans, and gender-diverse people, shared how housing affects safety and healing. buff.ly/PP26sdL

We recently joined nearly 200 organizations across Ontario calling on the Government of Ontario to create a poverty reduction strategy built on evidence, lived experience, and dignity. Read the letter here: buff.ly/DciPlif

New rules to stop unfair rent increases were highlighted in the recent Manitoba Throne Speech. Yutaka Dirks, our Senior Policy & Outreach Advisor, spoke with 680 CJOB Radio about what these changes could mean for renters. Listen to the segment (Nov. 18, 4 pm, 12 min 45 sec): buff.ly/bnuAGuj

Today, on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we reaffirm that people with disabilities have the right to safe, accessible, and affordable housing. Explore our comprehensive annotated bibliography, Literature on the Right to Housing for Disabled People: buff.ly/8n3cTqE