Our Housing Support, Advocacy & Safety Services
EmergencyHousing.ca is committed to advancing the right to adequate housing across Ontario through specialized support rooted in equity, dignity, and client-centered practice. Our services are guided by Ontario’s Human Rights Code, Housing Services Act, and best practices in trauma-informed and anti-oppressive support work.
Intensive Housing-Based Case Management
We offer trauma-informed, housing-first case management services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Services include:
- Eviction prevention and landlord mediation
- Personalized housing retention plans
- Systems navigation: Ontario Works, ODSP, Legal Aid
- Referrals to shelters, transitional, or supportive housing
- Tenant accompaniment and advocacy
- Support for survivors of domestic or gender-based violence under Special Priority Policy (SPP)
Tenant Advocacy & Property Liaison Services
We assist tenants in asserting their rights and navigating disputes with housing providers or landlords in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and Landlord and Tenant Board processes. We offer:
- Tenant education on rights and responsibilities
- Landlord communication and correspondence support
- Help responding to N4, N5, and LTB notices
- Support filing maintenance complaints and repair requests
- Documentation gathering and evidence support for hearings
Limited Legal Representation & Agent Services
In alignment with Law Society of Ontario (LSO) regulations, we offer limited-scope agent services for tenants requiring non-lawyer legal assistance. These include:
- Representation before the Landlord and Tenant Board (as permitted by LSO guidelines)
- Assistance with Legal Aid Ontario referrals and document preparation
- Form-filling and notice interpretation
- Support preparing for mediation or legal proceedings and limited representation with powers granted to us by our clients, we can act as a Support Person or McKenzie Friend Support and act as our client’s Agent and Representative
Keyholder & Limited Safety Services
We offer limited safety-oriented services for vulnerable clients (e.g. seniors, persons with disabilities, or those at risk of violence) including:
- Secure keyholding for support personnel or emergency responders
- Basic safety checks and wellness follow-ups
- Alarm response assistance and panic pendant coordination
- Collaboration with alarm companies, personal support workers (PSW) , safety plan contacts, notify key holders, emergency services and responders
Property Management Collaboration
We work in partnership with non-profit and private landlords to enhance housing stability for high-needs tenants by providing:
- Housing loss prevention planning and early intervention
- On-site tenant support coordination
- Behavioural contract facilitation and communication protocols
- Support in maintaining community safety and unit stability
All services are trauma-informed, voluntary, confidential, and rights-based. We do not replace legal counsel but work alongside licensed professionals to help ensure equitable outcomes for tenants and housing participants across Ontario.
Agent Authority and Specialized Safety Response Services
As authorized agents acting on behalf of our clients, we possess the legal capacity to take direct action in complex housing and safety-related matters where other providers may be limited.
Working in coordination with essential services—including police, legal supports, housing authorities, and crisis response teams—we deliver focused, time-limited safety and security services tailored to high-risk situations such as intimate partner violence (IPV), domestic violence (DV), and housing takeovers.
- Reclaiming vacant possession of a property when a client has fled due to IPV/DV
- Seizing and securing premises lawfully held by our client
- Immediate ejection of unauthorized or aggressive individuals from the client’s premises
- Security monitoring, limited security response, and deployment of safety and remote monitoring equipment
- Execution of safety plans and crisis protocols designed by experienced intensive housing based case managers
- Initiating private prosecutions or pursuing legal remedies where warranted
- Providing limited support services to local clients with pets experiencing IPV/DV, to help ensure both personal and animal safety
With formal Agent Status, we are able to act decisively and lawfully in ways others cannot, ensuring the protection of our clients’ property, safety, and housing stability.
While this website provides general information, it does not constitute or substitute formal legal advice. The best way to get guidance on your specific legal issue is to contact a lawyer. To schedule a meeting with a lawyer, remember to find a licenced lawyer.
Click here to Access the Law Society of Ontario’s Lawyer/Paralegal Database.