From Concern to Action: How Ottawa-West ACORN Members Are Fighting for Safe Apartments

The West came together to officially join the planning meetings to win a Safe Apartments Bylaw. The energy in the room made one thing clear: tenants are ready to build power and make change happen.

During the meeting, we had an open and honest discussion about the areas of concern in our apartments. Tenants shared examples of landlord neglect, inside our units, in common areas, and in the outdoor spaces around our buildings. Issues ranged from poor maintenance and delayed repairs to unsafe conditions that affect our health and well-being. By identifying these shared concerns, we strengthened our collective understanding of why a Safe Apartments Bylaw is urgently needed.

We also brainstormed strategies for outreach to build support for the proposed bylaw. If we are going to win, we need people power, and that means getting more neighbours involved. The path forward is clear: winning requires more people. That means conversations at the door, flyers in hand, and tenants talking to tenants about what safe housing should look like in our community.

A big shout out to ACORN board members Dave Longchamps and Beverley Puddicombe for leading the meeting and guiding such a productive discussion. Their leadership kept us focused, energized, and ready to take action.

After the meeting wrapped up, everyone grabbed flyers and committed to reaching out to their neighbours to grow our movement. The organizing has already begun, and together, we are building the power needed to win safe, healthy apartments for all.

Stay tuned for next steps and upcoming outreach opportunities. The campaign is growing, and there is room for everyone to get involved.