Hamilton Victory! City denies public funds to Malleum

Posted October 13, 2021

Posted October 13, 2021

Today at Council, Councillors voted 6-4 to uphold the General Issues Committee vote last week to deny 5 Tax Increment Grants to Malleum.

Malleum had applied for grants for renovations at 675-681 Barton Street East, 571-575 King Street East and 6-8 Steven Street, 408-414 King Street East and 4 Victoria Avenue South, 152-154 James Street North and 4-6 Cannon Street East and 289-293 Kenilworth Avenue North.

ACORN worked closely with tenants at 675-681 Barton St E between 2018-2019 when Malleum bought the building. We also have spoken to tenants that lived at 575 ½ King Street East, 6 Steven Street, 4 Victoria Avenue South, and a family member of a tenant at 293 Kenilworth Avenue North.

Since 2019 ACORN has been calling on the city to stop giving public funds to the private equity firm that displaces tenants and destroys Hamilton’s market affordable housing stock.

Moving forward, the City of Hamilton must focus on:

Implementing a city wide landlord licensing program for all rentals to:
- Ensure landlords are keeping their properties in good repair
- Based on municipal policy from New Westminster, BC restrictions on renoviction
Improvements and increased funding to the Tenant Defense Fund
Implementing a proactive tenant education program
- Track when buildings change ownership and immediately conduct outreach to the building to inform tenants of their rights
- Tenant education should include sharing contact info for the Tenant Defense Fund, property standards by-law, their City Councillor, Hamilton Community Legal Clinic, Housing Help, ACORN Tenant Union and general tenant rights regarding displacement

The City of Hamilton has the power to protect the city’s market affordable housing stock from substandard housing conditions and renoviction. Today is an important win and ACORN will continue to fight for bold local anti-renoviction policy.