Canadian Centre for Housing Rights - CCHR

Last chance to add your voice.

Our joint submission with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre calls for stronger action on accessible housing in Canada, including improved accessibility standards, home modification supports, stronger accountability, and better access to justice.

We're inviting organizations and individuals to endorse the submission before endorsements close on Sunday at 5:00 PM ET.

Add your voice today:
https://ow.ly/t4AL50ZeG9C

We're pleased to welcome Pouya Dabiran to the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights' Board of Directors.

Pouya is a lawyer whose work spans human rights, public and private law, domestic and international law, sustainable development, and Indigenous self-determination. Throughout his career, he has worked with and represented all three levels of government, litigated before all levels of court in Canada, and contributed to major public infrastructure projects. He brings a deep commitment to addressing some of today's most pressing challenges, including poverty reduction, affordable housing, and climate resilience.

Please join us in welcoming Pouya to CCHR!

Accessible housing is a human rights issue.

Approximately 8 million people in Canada live with one or more disabilities, while Canada's population of older adults continues to grow. Yet accessible housing remains out of reach for far too many people.

Together with Sunnybrook Research Institute, CCHR has submitted recommendations to the National Housing Council Review Panel on the lack of accessible housing in Canada. We are now inviting individuals and organizations to add their voice in support of these recommendations.

Help strengthen the call for accessible, inclusive housing across Canada.

📢 Endorsements close Friday.

https://ow.ly/3Uxt50Zc0Tv

Last week, the CCHR team attended the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual Conference and Trade Show in Edmonton.

Housing was front and centre in conversations throughout the conference. Across sessions, panel discussions, and conversations with municipal leaders, several themes emerged again and again: the need for more non-market housing, investments in infrastructure, stronger eviction prevention measures, and long-term solutions to homelessness.

One thing that stood out to us was how consistently these themes emerged across regions, political perspectives, and municipalities of all sizes.

We've rounded up a few of the key themes we heard, and why they matter!

Swipe through to learn more.

What happens when eviction becomes the default outcome?

We're proud to see CCHR's Director of Policy, Research and Law Reform, Margaret Flynn, featured as a co-author in the newly released book Evictions in Canada: The Impact of Evictions on Security of Tenure and the Right to Housing by Balanced Supply of Housing.

In their chapter, Sarah Buhler and Margaret Flynn explore eviction decision-making in Saskatchewan and raise important questions about proportionality, discretion, and eviction prevention.

The book brings together researchers from across Canada to better understand the impacts of evictions and what stronger protections for renters could look like.

Read the book: https://ow.ly/mTzj50Z9uKC

We're at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual Conference and Trade Show this week in Edmonton!

Municipalities are on the front lines of addressing housing challenges, and we're looking forward to connecting with local leaders from across the country about rights-based housing solutions, tenant support, education and training, and preserving affordable housing.

📍 Visit us at Booth 1013 from June 4–7 to meet the team, learn more about our work, and explore the resources and services we offer municipalities and housing providers.

See you there!

June is both Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month. It's a time to celebrate the strength, contributions, and leadership of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, and to reflect on the barriers many continue to face in housing and beyond.

Looking for a place to start? We encourage people to learn from and support organizations working to advance the rights and wellbeing of Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Throughout the month, we'll be highlighting partners whose work is helping strengthen communities and advance human rights.

Swipe through for a few meaningful ways to show your support this month. →

How can accessibility be embedded into housing and community design from the outset?

As part of National AccessAbility Week, ULI Toronto and DIALOG are hosting a free discussion exploring accessibility as a key consideration in the future of real estate and the built environment.

From housing and healthcare to campuses and workplaces, the session will examine how accessibility is shaping design decisions and creating more inclusive spaces for everyone.

Register here - https://ow.ly/S1Al50Z6hbQ

A landmark ruling for housing rights in Canada.

At CCHR, we are delighted to celebrate the Court’s decision in The Regional Municipality of Waterloo v. Persons Unknown and to be Ascertained - a significant step toward stronger rights protections and accountability for people experiencing homelessness in Canada.

We wanted to share a few excerpts from the decision that we believe deserve to be read, reflected on, and repeated widely.

Thank you to the people with lived experience, organizers, advocates and researchers whose work helped make this moment possible.

Read more from the National Right to Housing Network: https://ow.ly/IHUY50Z4Riw

CCHR is proud to stand alongside organizations, advocates, and academics across Canada in calling for stronger human rights implementation and accountability at all levels of government.

The newly formed Civil Society Forum for Human Rights in Canada has released a joint statement urging governments to take concrete action to ensure human rights are not just commitments on paper, but realities people can experience in their daily lives.

Read the full statement: https://housingrightscanada.com/canadian-civil-society-organizations-unite-in-call-for-human-rights-action-at-ministers-forum/