Ontario Bill 47 recognizing the human right to housing was introduced in spring 2008, and passed its first reading in March.  Although the bill is somewhat lacking in terms of substantive accountability, its passage would be an important first step in recognition of the right, and could be used in pressing the Ontario government to do more to ensure the right to housing in practice.

 Read the bill and check its status here.

On July 8, 2008, Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall and the Ontario Human Rights Commission launched "Right at home: Report on the consultation on human rights and rental housing in Ontario." This report, which follows a year of public sessions, meetings and submissions involving hundreds of individuals and organizations across the province, focuses on housing as a human right, and sets out a framework for collective action to identify, remove and prevent discrimination in rental housing.

A pervasive lack of awareness around domestic and international human rights and obligations in housing was also reported. Poverty was identified as a systemic factor that affects the ability of a wide range of tenants protected under Ontario's Human Rights Code to find and keep rental housing. For some tenants, the lack of affordable housing, low social assistance rates and minimum wage rates and discrimination contribute to homelessness - an international human rights issue. The Commission also heard repeatedly how many tenants across the province, particularly individuals with mental illness, are negatively affected by "not-in-my-backyard" or NIMBY opposition to affordable housing.

"Right at home" includes 37 recommended actions for various levels of government, decision-makers such as housing tribunals and boards, partners in affordable housing development, social housing providers, private-market housing providers, service providers, tenant organizations and human rights advocates

Visit the Commission's website to view the Report and other related information.