Survey of Payday Loan Users in Toronto and Vancouver

The practice of offering short-term payday loans against an individual’s paycheque (and/or other regular source of income such as pension cheques) has grown dramatically in the past few years and the industry is now estimated to be worth $2 billion a year in Canada in terms of loan volume. By comparison, a recent report about the industry in the United States, where payday lending originated, stated that the industry is worth US$44 billion annually in that country. ACORN and other organizations have raised concerns about the phenomenon of payday lending, citing extremely high rates of interest and lack of consumer awareness about the dangers of extended use of payday loans. The industry remains unregulated, and ACORN has called for legislative action to be taken.

No Consumer Left Behind: A Canadian Affordability Framework for Communications Services in a Digital Age

In this report, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre sought to develop a framework for defining “affordability” of communications services in the digital age. Citizens need to be able to participate fully in society—and they need communication in order to do so. However, as communications services become increasingly central to the everyday activities of Canadians, are they affordable for lowincome Canadians, or do these consumers struggle to retain service? This report examines the way affordability is perceived by regulators, academic researchers, and corporate stakeholders, both in Canada and in other jurisdictions.

A population-based study of premature mortality in relation to neighbourhood density of alcohol sales and cheque cashing outlets in Toronto, Canada

Alcohol overuse and poverty, each associated with premature death, often exist within disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Cheque cashing places (CCPs) may be opportunistically placed in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, where customers abound. This study explores whether neighbourhood density of CCPs and alcohol outlets are each related to premature mortality among adults.

The Economic Impact of Payday Lending in Economically Vulnerable Communities

This recent report from the Howard University Center on Race and Wealth uses 2012 Census data to identify the real and potential victims of payday lending, and pinpoints their geographic locations within the following target states__Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. "Based on the locations of these lenders, it is clear that they target minority and low-to middle income groups, and densely populated areas."

A Conflict of Interest: How Canada's Largest Banks Support Predatory Lending

In this report we examine the involvement of Canada’s two largest banks in financing the “predatory economy” that they helped create and in profiting from the emergence of payday lenders, pawnbrokers, rent-to-own stores, and cheque cashers. These businesses harm our communities and strip billions of dollars from the neighborhoods and working families who are the most in need.

ACORN Canada – Souder la fracture numérique

L’Internet a transformé notre monde, mais 42 % des gens qui gagnent moins de 30 000 $ n’ont pas de service d’Internet haute vitesse à la maison. Lorsqu’on compare au quartile des revenus les plus élevés de 2 % qui n’ont pas l’Internet haute vitesse à la maison, le besoin d’un changement devient désolant! Cette « fracture numérique » exclut manifestement les individus et familles à faibles revenus de ce que les Nations unies estiment maintenant comme étant un droit de la personne, comparable à la liberté d’expression. Voilà pourquoi les membres d’ACORN, partout au Canada, luttent pour assurer que l’Internet haute vitesse soit abordable pour les familles à faibles revenus!

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État des Reparations: ACORN Ottawa Sondage des Locataires

Ce rapport démontre que le gouvernement municipal doit faire plus car les locataires vivent dans des conditions de logement déplorables et n'ont pas le soutien requis pour se défendre contre les propriétaires et d'avoir leurs besoins comblés. Le Règlement en matière de normes foncières a plus d'étapes dans la procédure et plus de délais que la plupart des règlements et tout avis de violation est inexécutable. Pour ces raisons, ACORN demande la création d’une licence pour propriétaires MAINTENANT!

State of Repair: Ottawa ACORN Tenant Survey

This report shows that the municipal government needs to do more as tenants are living in substandard conditions without the necessary support to allow them to stand up to landlords and have their needs met. The Property Standards By-law has more procedural steps and delays than most by-laws in addition to any notice of violation being unenforceable. This is why Ottawa ACORN members want landlord licensing NOW!

What is Landlord Licensing?

ACORN has been fighting for Landlord Licensing for 12 years in Toronto, and on Thursday May 19th ACORN won a big step in the campaign – a motion for landlord licensing is being voted on at City Council in early June. Here are some common questions that ACORN members have been answering over the past 12 years.

Housing Policy Impact Final Report

In 2013 AIC approached the Public Health Association of BC to assist it in a project aimed at increasing the knowledge of the social determinants of health related to substandard housing in an effort to have an impact on housing policy in BC.
The project has three goals:
1. Explore how substandard conditions in low moderate income rental buildings affect the health and well being of communities.
2. Create and sustain dialogue that fosters systemic change in the relationship between renters and policy makers by breaking down the barriers between the two.
3. Use research as a policy impact tool on housing policy in order to improve housing conditions and consequently improve the health and well being in communities.

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