Hamilton Mountain Organizing Drive Kicks Off

On August 15th, the Hamilton Mountain organizing drive took a step forward with its first in-person meeting since the pandemic. The meeting was held at the Huntington Park Rec Centre, gathering 24 members from across the mountain region.

The meeting began with an introduction to ACORN’s history of organizing in Hamilton. The introduction was followed by a discussion of local issues with a focus on addressing the needs of mountain residents.

Key Issues Identified:

• Vacant Homes and Vacancy Tax: To get an assessment of the number of vacant rentals in Hamilton.
• Rent Control: Ensuring fair and effective rent control measures.
• Affordable Housing: The urgent need for more affordable housing options.
• Loopholes in Rent Control: Addressing existing loopholes that undermine tenant protections.
• Housing Maintenance: The necessity for immediate legal frameworks to ensure landlords are held accountable for repairs.
• Property Taxes: Reduced property taxes for tenants.
• Legal Support for Tenants: Expanding legal resources available to tenants facing disputes.

In addition to discussing these issues, members explored potential solutions such as city housing options, co-ops, and land trusts, particularly in response to the Dicenzo surveys’ concerns about townhome sales as condominiums which is an ongoing struggle on the mountain.

Upcoming Meetings and Events

The organizing drive continues with key meetings scheduled for:

September 5th and September 26th: Organizing Committee Meetings
October 9th: Big meeting to elect a new chapter board.

Additionally, members will come together on August 24th for an outreach event along Limeridge and Mohawk Road East.