Endorse our call to action

National Action for Change

November 2024

On the week of November 22nd, groups from across Canada gathered in support of the Social Housing and Human Rights coalition’s call to expand social housing!

Hundreds of supporters came together in their communities and online spaces to demand that the federal government commits to upholding the human right to housing for all. This means actually creating housing affordable for our neighbours in core housing need and those who are facing chronic homelessness.

The private market has failed to offer low-rent housing proportionate to the need for over thirty years now. We need at minimum 50,000 net new, rent-geared-to-income social housing units to be created annually over ten years, starting NOW!

  • Supporters calling for more social housing in Victoria. Source: Housing Justice Project
  • A banner that says “Shelters are not homes” is drapped in front of the BC Legislature. Source: Housing Justice Project
  • Community members gather on the Plaza of the Alberta Legislature. A banner that says “Housing cures homelessness” is on display. Photo credits: Paula E. Kirman

  • Minister Bernadette Smith announces the Government of Manitoba’s endorsement of SHHR’s call to action. Source: CTV News Winnipeg
  • ACORN members gather in front of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to demand for the $200 cheques be used instead to create 10k social housing units. Source: ACORN
  • ACORN leaders in Hamilton take part in a speakout to demand more federal funding for social housing. Source: Hamilton ACORN
  • Montreal groups with FRAPRU hold up signs and gather in front of a federally- owned building. Source: FRAPRU
  • FRAPRU’s banner. Source: FRAPRU
  • Source: FRAPRU
  • Comité logement Rive-Sud supporters hold up a banner on federally-owned land calling for it to be utilized for social housing. Source: Comité logement Rive-Sud
  • NB ACORN members hold up signs at a rally emphasizing that housing is a human right. Source: NB ACORN
  • NB ACORN members present signs encouraging tenants to join their organizing efforts. Source: NB ACORN
Find out more about the events held below:

National Panel Discussion on the Renters’ Bill of Rights – Nov. 20th – Organized by the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR)

Over 240 people attended a national virtual panel discussion on building a renter-led vision for a stronger Renters’ Bill of Rights. The discussion featured speakers from the National Right to Housing Network, the Accelerating Accessibility Coalition, the National Association of Friendship Centres, ACORN Canada and the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights.

You can access the recording and event summary here.

Victoria – Nov. 22nd – Organized by the Housing Justice Project

The Housing Justice Project held a rally at the provincial legislature where more than 10 community groups and 150 people showed up in support. The event was led by people who have escaped homelessness and was the first housing advocacy effort in Victoria that centred upon the needs of those who are unhoused and Indigenous peoples. Under a new provincial government, the Housing Justice Project hopes to accomplish a shift from Shelter First to Housing First policy – and this means a massive uptick in regular, subsidized housing. They are demanding thousands of $500/month homes in Greater Victoria alone.

Surrey – Nov. 22nd – Organized by BC ACORN

BC ACORN held its action to call on the province to step in and introduce anti-tenant displacement protections across the province. The rally took place outside of Parkside Apartments to demand provincial action. Read more here.

Edmonton – Nov. 23rd – Organized by The Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness (ECOHH)

80 people stood with ECOHH on the Plaza at the Legislature to bring attention to homelessness in the city and the need for more social housing. Powerful speeches and songs were presented. Volunteers handed out postcards with SHHR’s message to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to build and invest in social housing.

Read the event summary here.

Media:

Calgary – Nov. 22nd – Organized by Alberta ACORN

Alberta ACORN gathered at the headquarters of Avenue Living REIT. Members are demanding a rent cap, a ban on fixed term leases and protecting tenants’ right to organize and speak out against injustice. Read more here.

Winnipeg – Nov. 21st – Organized by the Right to Housing Coalition

The Right to Housing Coalition invited the City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba to endorse SHHR’s call to action at an event held in the legislature. The Honourable Bernadette Smith, Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness spoke at the event and announced that the provincial government endorsed the call to action for greater federal investments in social housing.

Media:


Province-wide – Nov. 22nd – Organized by NoDemovictions

On National Housing Day, NoDemovictions encouraged groups to join the Ontario Housing Coalition digitally. The coalition aims to unite organizations in providing solutions to the housing crisis, helping to advocate for change at a municipal, provincial, and federal level.

If your group is interested in being a part of the Ontario Housing Coalition, you can fill out this survey to get started.

Toronto – Nov. 22nd – Organized by ACORN

ACORN marched to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing located at 777 Bay Street in downtown Toronto. ACORN’s message: the money spent on mailing $200 cheques to every Ontarian could instead build 10,000 units of much needed affordable housing units for people with in core housing need. Read more here.

Ottawa – Nov. 22nd – Organized by Ottawa ACORN

Ottawa ACORN members rallied on National Housing Day at the downtown Human Rights Monument. The action was led by two ACORN leaders facing renoviction – Paul Burns and Debbie Staples – who persevered through heavy rain and wind to share how the nation’s capital is failing to protect tenants from mass displacement. Read more here.

Hamilton

Leader Speakout – Nov. 22nd – Organized by Hamilton ACORN

ACORN leaders in Hamilton participated in a speakout emphasizing why we need more federal funding for social housing. The leaders also highlighted how the federal government needs to catch up with the new standards being set within the city. Read more here.

Keys to Affordable Housing – A Hamilton-Burlington Tenant Forum – Nov. 15th – Organized by the First Unitarian Church of Hamilton

100 tenants and community members gathered to hear a talk by Dr. Carolyn Whitzman and Sharlene Henry on applying federal, provincial and local solutions to the housing crisis. Postcards with SHHR’s call to action were handed out to participants.

London – Nov. 22nd – Organized by London ACORN

London ACORN gathered outside of 960 and 980 Cheapside St to fight the unfair rent hikes. ACORN tenants are demanding that Killam REIT drop the 5.5% AGIs for all tenants and address the backlog of maintenance requests for the buildings. Read more here.

Brampton – Nov. 22nd – Organized by Peel ACORN

Members gathered at 99 Kennedy Rd N – one of Golden Equity’s 3 buildings in the city – to protest cockroach infestations, mold, security issues and more. Peel ACORN acted to send a message to Golden Equity and demand non-market solutions to the housing crisis. Read more here.

Burlington – Nov. 22nd – Organized by Community Development Halton

Community members attended a talk by James Dunn (Ph.D.) to learn more about the housing policies that led up to this moment in the housing crisis. This was followed by a conversation focused on calls to action and a panel discussion on what is being done to ensure the right to housing for all.

Montreal – Nov. 22nd – Organized by Montreal groups with FRAPRU

More than 70 people gathered in front of 1420 Rue Sainte-Catherine to call on the federal government to reserve its surplus sites for social housing. Alexandre Leduc attended the rally in the afternoon.

Québec City – Nov. 22nd – Organized by Comité populaire Saint-Jean-Baptiste

Comité populaire Saint-Jean-Baptiste held a rally in front of the office of Minister Jean-Yves Duclos. The group and its supporters called for the surplus locations Old Port. 94, 104 and 112 Dalhousie Street to be used for social housing.

Media:

Gatineau – Nov. 22nd – Organized by Logemen’occupe

Logemen’occupe held a press conference on federally owned land to demand that it be used for social housing.

Media:

Sherbrooke – Nov. 22nd – Organized by Association des locataires de Sherbrooke

A rally was held outside of L’église Sainte-Famille to call for the site to be designated for social housing.

Longueuil – Nov. 22nd – Organized by Comité logement Rive-Sud

Supporters of Comité logement Rive-Sud installed banners on the grounds of Pointe-de-Longue, a federally owned property.

Halifax – Nov. 23rd – Organized by Nova Scotia ACORN

On November 23rd, Nova Scotia ACORN held the Vote for Housing rally. Many supporters showed up to fight for permanent rent control, a ban on the fixed-term lease loophole, and more non-market social housing.

Moncton and Fredericton – Nov. 22nd – Organized by NB ACORN

NB ACORN launched its Do Rent Control Right campaign after winning a historic basic 3% rent cap earlier in the week. Rallies were held in both English and French to  highlight important recommendations for the province. These recommendations advise on how to avoid renovictions, landlord use evictions, and fixed-term leases that are common in other provinces. Read more here.

Join us in demanding a real solution to the housing crisis.

Endorse our call to action