National Housing Day Actions – Expand Tenant Rights and Social Housing Now!

National Housing Day is on November 22, and ACORN Canada is working alongside the Social Housing & Human Rights Coalition and other incredible housing advocates and tenant organizations across the country. Together, we are sending a clear message to the federal government: prioritize social and non-market housing. At the same time, ACORN will push forward the exciting local and provincial campaigns happening in ACORN cities that get to the core of why the housing crisis exists!

Check out ACORN’s National Housing Platform for the details on all of the 9 demands areas that we won’t stop fighting for. Of course on Nov 22nd – National Housing Day – ACORN will be focussed on these two demands areas:

Fund Social & Non Market Housing

• Create a minimum of 50,000 net new rent-geared-to-income social housing units each year for the next 10 years. These units should target people experiencing core housing needs and homelessness, with rents permanently set at no more than 30% of household income or social assistance housing allowances.
• Invest in the acquisition, construction, operation, and maintenance of new and existing public, non-profit, and cooperative-owned housing to meet the diverse needs of people experiencing core housing needs and homelessness.

Fund people in Core Housing Need

• Any federal funding needs to create housing for tenants in core housing need.
• All housing created with public money or tax incentives must be kept affordable for perpetuity (not 21 years as is currently done under several federal housing programs).

Here are the details for the NINE ACORN rallies and actions happening for National Housing Day in solidarity with our allies:

In Calgary, join us at 11:00 AM outside Avenue Living Headquarters at 1201 Glenmore Trail SW for the “Right to Organize! Ban Fixed-Term Leases!” action. Calgary ACORN’s campaign for rent control and security of tenure targets one of Western Canada’s largest corporate landlords, Avenue Living. The Avenue Living ACORN Tenant Union has already made waves, winning anti-eviction and affordability covenants from the Canadian Infrastructure Bank after its mega-deal with Avenue Living to fund energy retrofits. Now, Calgary ACORN is fighting to ensure that all Tenant Union members are granted month-to-month leases.

In Ottawa, ACORN members will rally at noon at the Human Rights Monument on 220 Elgin St to push for a renoviction bylaw. Ottawa ACORN is keeping up the momentum to enact renoviction bylaws, following the lead of Hamilton and Toronto. The City of Ottawa has a real opportunity to protect tenants from unjust displacement with a bylaw of its own.

In Toronto, ACORN will gather at 2:00 PM for a rally at Grenville St and Yonge St (one block north of College) to highlight the urgent need for social housing. Doug Ford’s $200 checks may cost Ontarians $3 billion, but that same amount could build over 10,000 housing units affordable to low-income people. ACORN members will call on the government to prioritize funding that genuinely addresses the housing crisis in Ontario.

In Surrey, BC ACORN members and allies will meet on November 22 at 1:00 PM outside Parkside Apartments at 13352 105A Ave for the “Hands Off Our Homes – March to Stop Demovictions.” Demovictions are displacing hundreds of families, and over 400 affordable apartments in Surrey are at risk of being replaced by luxury condos in working-class neighbourhoods. ACORN is calling on the provincial government to enact anti-demoviction protections so families aren’t uprooted by mass redevelopment.

In Fredericton, NB ACORN will rally at noon at 380 York St, outside the Colpitts Development, to advocate for effective rent control policies, with a parallel rally being held in Moncton at 85 Beechwood Drive at the same time. With a new government committed to permanent rent control, this is a critical opportunity for New Brunswick to develop a strong policy informed by best practices from across Canada. NB ACORN will release its *Do Rent Control Right* recommendations and urge the government to ensure tenants have a seat at the table in shaping the new laws.

In Hamilton, ACORN will host a “Leader Speakout for National Housing Day” from 2:00 to 3:00 PM outside the ACORN office at 56 Mulberry St. This gathering will include reviewing national demands, sharing tenant testimonials, and creating social media videos to amplify the call for housing justice across Canada.

In London, ACORN is organizing an action at 1:00 PM outside the Killam Building at 960 Cheapside St to stop Above Guideline Rent Increases (AGI). ACORN members are calling on Killam Properties to withdraw its AGI application, a tactic that allows landlords to sidestep rent control laws and increase rents beyond the legal limit. Join us in demanding fair rent protections for London tenants.

In Brampton, Peel ACORN members living in Golden Equity buildings are organizing a tenant speakout to demand an end to ‘roach infestations, mold and chronically neglected repairs. This will take place at 12pm outside 99 Kennedy Rd N. Currently, the city of Brampton is piloting a landlord licensing program but only for small buildings, meaning large corporate landlords like Golden Equity who own high rises are left completely unaccountable. Join Peel ACORN to demand action from Golden Equity and the City!

Last but not least, on Saturday, November 23rd at 11 AM, Halifax ACORN  is inviting allies and ACORN members from around the province to join the *Vote for Housing* rally. Together, we’ll call on all parties to ban fixed-term leases, make rent control permanent, and invest in building and acquiring social and non-market housing. In Nova Scotia, sign and share NS ACORN’s Note for Housing online action.