Rights, not charity.
Housing First is a legal and ethical position: the home comes first, supports are chosen, and the Code cannot be signed away.
Housing First
Housing is the starting point, not a reward for compliance. People do not have to be “housing ready.”
Ontario Human Rights Code — housing
Discrimination in occupancy of accommodation is prohibited. The Code prevails. Rights cannot be signed away.
Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
Most private tenants in Ontario are covered. Eviction is a Board process, not a padlock.
Landlord and Tenant Board
The LTB is the forum for most residential tenancy disputes in Ontario.
Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario
The HRTO decides Code applications, including housing.
AODA and accessible housing services
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act sets standards for accessible customer service and information. The Code still does the heavy lifting on accommodation.
Housing Services Act and service managers
Forty-seven Ontario service managers run social housing, RGI, and much of the homelessness system.
National Housing Strategy Act — the right to housing
Canada recognizes housing as a fundamental human right. The Federal Housing Advocate exists to name the gaps.
Income supports that keep people housed
OW, ODSP, housing benefits, and federal income security are housing tools.
Standard form of lease and illegal terms
Most private tenancies must use Ontario’s standard lease. A term that takes away a statutory right is not saved because you signed it.