ACORN Raises Renters’ Priorities Ahead of The Hamilton Club Mayoral Debate

ACORN gathered outside The Hamilton Club ahead of the mayoral candidate debate to make sure renters’ voices were heard.

With renters making up a significant portion of Hamilton’s population, members were frustrated that none of the three mayoral candidates responded to ACORN’s survey, while two of the three found time to attend the landlord lobby’s townhall.

So, we brought our priorities directly to them!

Members held a tenant speakout, sharing ACORN’s local platform and calling for action on issues that matter to renters, including:

• Tenant protections from extreme heat (max heat bylaw + free transit during heat waves for all riders)
• Improvements to Hamilton’s Housing Emergency Fund
• Expanding rental licensing to all wards. Current program covers wards 1, 8 and part of 14
• Affordable transit – Increase Fare Assist program to 100% discount
• Maintain existing tenant protection bylaws ( Renovation Licence and Relocation By-law (renoviction), Rental Housing Protection By-law (demoviction) and Safe Apartment Bylaw (proactive building inspections)
• Size and type of affordable housing – Review minimum size of affordable units for livability and preserve affordable townhomes
• Community control / consultation on new Data Centres in Hamilton.
• Libraries are for all! Keep carding out of libraries.

Members also took time to hand out flyers to debate attendees heading into the building, making sure candidates and their guests had ACORN’s platform in hand. Outside, members connected with people passing by at the intersection, sharing information about renters’ priorities and encouraging the public to get out and vote.

Stay tuned – ACORN will be releasing the results from our candidate survey and encouraging members to vote on October 26th.