South Ottawa ACORN Votes to demand safe sharps-disposal

OTTAWA— Last week, South Ottawa ACORN members came together for our Second Organizing Committee Meeting. Tenants committed to fighting back against the unacceptable housing conditions and unfair treatment so many of us are facing in our communities. South Ottawa is united in the fight for adequate housing!

Issues that South Ottawa ACORN is Tackling:

At the meeting, members raised urgent concerns about:

• Subdivided Units: Tenants are living in overcrowded homes with not enough bathrooms or laundry facilities to meet basic needs.
• Predatory Landlords: Many landlords are using intimidation, harassment, and unfair practices to take advantage of tenants.
• Confusing Leases: Plain English leases are desperately needed. Too many tenants are stuck signing documents full of legal jargon we can’t easily understand.
• Broken Promises: Landlords are making promises to complete repairs but never following through.
• Landlord Harassment: Some tenants are receiving false accusation letters from landlords meant to scare them into silence.
• No Notice for Water Shut-Offs: Tenants are left without water for hours or even days. Often without any advance warning.
• Filthy, Broken Appliances: Old stoves, fridges, and other appliances are being left in terrible condition, and landlords are refusing to replace them.
• Inadequate Heating & Cooling: Tenants are freezing in winter and roasting in summer because landlords won’t maintain proper climate control.
• Dirty Laundry Rooms: Shared laundry spaces are unsafe, dirty, and full of broken machines.
• Para-transpo Failures: People relying on paratransit are experiencing long wait times and unreliable, poor-quality service.

Safe Sharps Disposal at Sandalwood Park

Members also unanimously voted to demand safe sharps disposal options at Sandalwood Park. This is a crucial step toward making our parks safer and more accessible for everyone, especially families and children. It’s time the City provided proper disposal bins and regular maintenance to keep our public spaces clean and safe.

We aren’t staying silent! Members are planning outreach, petitioning, and more organizing! Want to join us? Email [email protected] to get involved in the South Ottawa Chapter!