ACORN National Housing day

On November 22nd, the National Housing Day, ACORN Canada held actions in 9 cities across the country to send a clear message to the federal government: prioritize social and non-market housing. At the same time, by highlighting the issues of renovictions, demovictions, lack of rent caps, additional rent increases, fixed term leases and more, ACORN members called on their municipal and provincial governments to take action and institute strong tenant protections.

Send an email to the Liberal Government calling for more social housing NOW!

Check out ACORN’s National Housing Platform for the details on all of the 9 demands areas that we won’t stop fighting for.

Here is a snapshot all the amazing actions:

Moncton and Fredericton: NB ACORN launched its Do Rent Control Right campaign after winning a historic basic 3% rent cap earlier in the week and a commitment from the newly elected Holt government that a full review of landlord and tenant law would take place in the coming months. ACORN rallied in both official languages highlighting the key recommendations the province needs to avoid the pitfalls and loopholes like renoviction, landlord use evictions, and fixed-term leases that are common in other provinces. As an ever-growing organization, ACORN offers tenants the power to be at the table while new tenant protections are created. With a solid working relationship with the new government ACORN is positioning tenants to win.

Surrey, BC: Tired of seeing demovictions rubber stamped by local government like Surrey city hall, BC ACORN held its action to call on the province to step in and introduce anti tenant displacement protections across B.C. BC ACORN rallied out front of Parkside Apartments to demand provincial action. More than 300 affordable apartments are up for redevelopment, putting hundreds of families at risk of displacement in a neighborhood where demovictions threaten the majority of the rental buildings still standing.

Peel: Brampton ACORN members gathered at 99 Kennedy Rd N – one of Golden Equity’s 3 buildings in the city – to protest cockroach infestations, mold, security issues and more. Golden Equity is a corporate landlord based out of Montreal. If how they operate their buildings tells you anything, it’s that they care more about collecting rent checks to line their pockets than investing in their tenants’ health and safety. That’s why Peel ACORN members organized on national housing day for non-market housing solutions and to send a message to Golden Equity!

Ottawa: Ottawa ACORN members rallied on National Housing Day at the downtown Human Rights Monument. The action was led by two ACORN leaders facing renoviction – Paul Burns and Debbie Staples – who persevered through heavy rain and wind to share how the nation’s capital is failing to protect tenants from mass displacement. Ottawa is soon to be the only big city in Ontario with ZERO protections for tenants against renovictions and demovictions. With an important vote coming up early December on whether the City will take the necessary steps to introduce a renoviction bylaw similar to Hamilton and Toronto, the rally turned into a march to the Mayor’s office where ACORN and allies demanded a meeting to discuss anti-tenant displacement policies.

Alberta: Alberta ACORN gathered at the headquarters of Avenue Living REIT. Corporate landlords like Avenue Living are crushing low income renters by hiking rents by 100s of dollars per month and retaliating against tenants who speak out. The Government of Alberta is letting this happen and we say ENOUGH is ENOUGH. Members are demanding a rent cap, a ban on fixed term leases and protecting tenants’ right to organize and speak out against injustice!

Check the video here

Hamilton: Hamilton ACORN had a fantastic speakout with ACORN leaders from across the city highlighting why we NEED federal funds for social housing and how we’re setting new standards for the feds to catch up to here in Hamilton! We can fight for change at the local level, and we can win individual fights, but we need federal policy to help us scale up these wins!

London: London ACORN gathered outside 960 & 980 Cheapside St today to fight the unfair rent hikes. ACORN tenants are demanding that Killam REIT drop the 5.5% AGIs for ALL tenants and address the backlog of maintenance requests for the buildings. At the action, members collectively called Killam REIT to demand a meeting with the 960 & 980 Cheapside ACORN tenant union. As well, London ACORN is calling on the City of London to create a tenant defense fund so tenants can access legal support to fight AGIs like those on Cheapside.

Toronto: ACORN marched to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing located at 777 Bay Street in downtown Toronto. ACORN’s message: the money spent on mailing $200 cheques to every Ontarian could instead build 10,000 units of much needed affordable housing units for people with core housing needs. With the building clad with security, members first gathered together at Grenville St and Yonge St and were met with City News. After many attempts, the march finally arrived at the 14th floor (Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing), where action leaders met with a senior Policy Advisor for the ministry.

Check the video here