Tell PM Carney to PROTECT Affordable Housing

ACORN Alberta is fighting for their own home in Calgary City Centre. 

Since 1971, the Old Y has been a hub for community organizing, grassroots action, and essential services in Calgary. For over 50 years, it has provided affordable space for groups that fight for justice, equity, and a stronger city for everyone. Generations of Calgarians have found support, connection, and hope within its walls.

We are calling on the City of Calgary to step up and ensure this building remains open and active. Preventing vacancy and protecting the incredible work that happens here every day.

ACORN members from all across New Brunswick gathered in front of NB Power’s head office and marched to the legislature to say: NO to funding the oil industry while we bear the burden! NO to ever increasing bills! NO to dirty energy! NO to subsidies for big businesses, while people are starving! NO to the Pro-Trump ProEnergy Gas Plant!

New Brunswickers are being set to rely on this plant for decades to come, meanwhile NB Power is offering no reassurance that this will lower rates, create local jobs or be even remotely sustainable for the environment. We are putting our foot down!

ACORN members came out strong in Halifax to greet the provincial government on the day they returned to the legislature the ACORN way: by rallying for housing justice!

Members chanted, demanding real tenant protections and policies that keep people in their homes. Our three clear demands:

• Ban fixed-term leases — tenants need stability and protection from forced turnover.

• Permanent rent control — no more temporary fixes; renters need long-term safeguards.

• Truly affordable housing — homes people can afford must be built and preserved.

ACORN Hamilton delegated once again at the Planning Committee in support of the City of Hamilton protecting tenants from extreme heat. 

In Spring 2023, Council unanimously approved a motion for the city to develop and implement a maximum heat bylaw. ACORN members Pauline and Kayla delegated to the committee in support of the property standards improvements but urged the city to move forward with a max heat bylaw. 

Staff acknowledged the significant delay in any progress since 2023 and committed to start working on it. 

In a BIG victory after a long, hard fought battle against Ontario’s King of Renovictions [Michael Klein], ACORN members living at 1270 and 1280 Webster Street have WON the right to stay in their homes!

Nearly two and a half years after Webster tenants first received notice of their building being bought by a new landlord, after countless tenant meetings, rallies, demonstrations, reports, press coverage, deputations, petitions, and countless direct actions, the Webster street ACORN tenant union was able to force their landlord to withdraw the mass N13 evictions – meaning tenants get to STAY!

ACORN members from across the Lower Mainland gathered outside the constituency office of Energy and Climate Minister Adrian Dix to demand that the province stop prioritizing LNG and instead invest in programs that keep people safe and cool.

Since the 2021 heat dome, when 619 people died across BC, it has become clear that air conditioning is a necessity, not a luxury. But the BC government continues to prioritize LNG projects in Northern BC. These projects fuel the climate crisis and risk driving up the cost of energy for ordinary people. BC is forecasted to provide billions in subsidies to LNG projects in coming years, ACORN took action to demand that those billions of dollars instead go towards protecting tenants.

Tenants all over the province are being sent renoviction notices- despite the hard won protections NB ACORN has fought for. These notices are fake, intended to harass tenants into moving of their own accord, only for these landlords to jack up the rent and take away our existing affordable housing!

That is just what they’re trying to do at 320 St George street in Moncton! After fighting to get AC in all units of the building, their new property managers have turned around and taped meaningless papers to their doors, telling the remaining tenants to leave by December first. Fake notices- using official-looking government logos- were posted on every occupied door of the building, in order to scare away tenants who are paying “below market rent”. We say no!

125+ ACORN members took action in six Ontario cities demanding the Province raise social assistance rates, with many staging “poverty picnics” outside ODSP and OW offices. ACORN members know firsthand that current ODSP [Ontario Disability Support Program] and OW [Ontario Works] rates leave people hungry and unable to afford basic necessities.

In September 2024, Premier Doug Ford said that he’d support people with disabilities “for life”. However, the Ontario Conservative Party was the only major party in this past election who did not publicly support doubling social assistance rates – SHAME! 

ACORN members marched down Montreal Road then Hochelaga Street to stand with ACORN members at 660 Hochelaga who are facing mass renovictions at the hands of landlord Philip Augustine and property management firm Sleepwell.

With public consultations on a municipal renoviction bylaw now underway, ACORN is demanding real protections—not more displacement. The march sent a clear message: We won’t let landlords force people out just to hike rents.

Peel ACORN members were out in full force this Labour Day, connecting with the community about the fight for full rent control, tenant rights, and affordable housing!

Right now, Mississauga is developing a renoviction bylaw — and it’s because of tenant organizing led by ACORN members across the province. Landlords are exploiting loopholes in Ontario’s rent control laws to evict tenants under the false pretext of “major renovations,” only to hike rents once units are empty.

We’re demanding that Mississauga pass a strong renoviction bylaw! Add your voice to our demand:

50+ ACORN members at 399 Markham Rd walked Mayor Olivia Chow through leaks, ceiling holes, and black mold. After hearing tenants and seeing units first-hand, the Mayor committed to action — but commitments only turn into repairs when thousands of us demand it!

Scarborough ACORN’s Secretary Khadijah laid out what’s needed: real remedial action (City does the work, bills the landlord), in-unit repairs on timelines, more inspectors, and stiffer penalties for repeat offenders.

Help push City Hall to strengthen RentSafeTO and enforce it building by building: