Hamilton ACORN Launches a New Campaign to Strengthen the Housing Emergency Fund

Today, July 22, Hamilton ACORN officially launched its new campaign, H.O.P.E. – Hamilton Organizing to Prevent Evictions, calling on the City of Hamilton to strengthen the Housing Emergency Fund (HEF). The HEF is a municipal program that acts like a rent bank, helping low-income tenants and people receiving social assistance maintain their existing housing or secure permanent housing.

Over the past several months, ACORN surveyed members and the community and identified significant gaps in the current program. Based on the survey results, input from our allies, the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic, Hamilton Community Benefits Network, and the Social Planning and Research Council (SPRC) as well as research into similar programs across Canada, ACORN developed a set of recommendations for improving the fund.

With the HEF now in operation for 2.5 years, ACORN is calling on the City to conduct a full review of the program. Our key demands include:

• Raising the income eligibility threshold.
• Expanding the fund to cover moving costs and damage caused by bed bugs.
• Providing more support for tenants facing Above Guideline Increase (AGI) arrears.
• Increasing promotion and public awareness of the program.

Around 30 ACORN members and supporters gathered at Main Street East and Catherine Street South at 1:00 p.m. to launch the campaign. Members went to the Housing Help Centre, which administers the Housing Emergency Fund, to deliver ACORN’s demand letter and campaign report outlining the proposed improvements.

Following the report delivery, members rallied at City Hall, where they shared the campaign demands, personal experiences with the Housing Emergency Fund and highlighted why changes are needed. The rally also featured remarks from our ally, Sara Mayo of the Social Planning and Research Council (SPRC).

To conclude the action, members entered City Hall together and delivered the campaign report and demand letter to the Mayor’s Office.