Healthy Homes
Tenants in New Westminster Stand up to Slum Landlords
- Article Information
- Category: Affordable Liveable Housing
- Created on Monday, 14 May 2012 20:20
ACORN Canada members in BC were at it again, going after problem landlords and holding them accountable as part of our larger Healthy Homes Campaign. This time in New Westminster, ACORN members had city inspectors out to inspect their building and at the same time held an action to demand their landlord, the Sahota family, clean up their act.
You may remember from previous BC updates that this isn’t the first time a building owned by the Sahota family has been in the news. Less than two months ago, a member in Surrey won a precedent setting fina against the family for failing to maintain a building in Surrey. Moving forward ACORN will be laying out reforms to the Residential Tenancy Act, and reforms to how the act is enforced, as well as turning up the heat on the Sahota family and other slum landlords who think having families live in hellacious conditions is acceptable. Stay tuned for this as our members have no plans of stopping until everyone has a healthy home!
Cape Breton ACORN Continues Impressive Growth
- Article Information
- Category: Other Updates & Local Campaigns
- Created on Monday, 14 May 2012 19:49
Cape Breton ACORN is growing fast! Dozens of people came together to rally (link) for affordable and livable housing, and hundreds are now involved. Members are planning the next steps of their Healthy Homes campaign, and deciding what other issues to build campaigns in response to.
There’s an important municipal election on the horizon in Cape Breton, and ACORN Canada members will be working hard to make sure tenants’ voices are heard. Member-organizers will work door-to-door to boost voter turnout and make their issues into election issues.
To get involved, contact Cape Breton ACORN (http://www.acorncanada.org/contact)!
Inside Toronto: Toronto tenants, politicians to talk rent control
- Article Information
- Category: Fair Housing for Toronto Tenants
- Created on Monday, 14 May 2012 14:34
Toronto politicians and tenants will talk this Saturday, May 12, afternoon about whether Ontario's government should reinstate permanent rent controls and allow the city to license its landlords.
ACORN Canada (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, Canada) has fought for a system of landlord licensing in Toronto which would force landlords to pay for repairs, but it cannot happen without changes in provincial law.
The advocacy group, which says the city's rents "continue to skyrocket" as buildings deteriorate, also wants to see the province return to rent controls which limit permitted rent increases on apartments whether or not those apartments are vacant.
Liberal and New Democrat MPPs and city councillors have been invited to a provincial housing forum on these issues at 1:30 p.m. at the Ontario Federation of Labour building on Gervais Drive, near the corner of Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue East.
Original article available at: http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/1353953--toronto-tenants-politicians-to-talk-rent-control
Ottawa Citizen: Tenants group presses for better housing standards
- Article Information
- Category: Affordable Liveable Housing
- Created on Thursday, 10 May 2012 19:20
OTTAWA — Members of Ottawa ACORN rallied Wednesday in Sandalwood Park to press the City of Ottawa for better housing standards in their battle to get quicker action from landlords on repair and maintenance issues.
About 20 members were at the park near Herongate Mall, holding signs that read “We Want Healthy Homes” and “Make Landlords Accountable” and reiterating their concerns about the need to live in safe and clean housing.
ACORN Ottawa has about 9,700 members and is one of the largest tenant organizations in the city.
1310 News: Herongate residents denounce 'appalling' living conditions
- Article Information
- Category: Affordable Liveable Housing
- Created on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 22:44
Their bathrooms are leaking, their ceilings are caving.
Some homes have birds nesting in the walls, other mould growing on the window sills. Many have been waiting months on end for their landlord to make repairs.
Now they are calling for the city to step in.
Members of ACORN Ottawa, a low to moderate income rights group, is pushing for better housing and more rights for tenants as part of its campaign for healthy homes in the city.
A group of about 20 residents and ACORN members rallied at Sandalwood Park Wednesday afternoon.
CFRA: ACORN Calls for Healthy Homes
- Article Information
- Category: Affordable Liveable Housing
- Created on Wednesday, 09 May 2012 14:57
Ottawa ACORN wants to make sure tenants live in safe and clean housing.
The group will launch a campaign today for Healthy Homes in Ottawa.
ACORN wants the City of Ottawa to create an action plan on how to bring problem properties to a "Healthy Home" standard, including a minimum timeframe for landlords to respond to repairs and maintenance requests and improving the fine system.
The City is also being urged to improve the minimum standards for residential properties
