Housing Rights Advisory Committee
The full agenda, as filed
All 10 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.
HS7.1received
The Terms of Reference for the Housing Rights Advisory Committee states that the Committee will meet a minimum of four times per year at the discretion of the Chair. The following meetings are scheduled for 2026: Date: Friday, February 20, 2026 Time: 9:30 a.m. Location: Committee Room 1/Video Conference Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 Time: 9:30 a.m. Location: Committee Room 2/Video Conference Date: Friday, May 29, 2026 Time: 9:30 a.m. Location: Committee Room 2/Video Conference Date: Monday, June 22, 2026 Time: 9:30 a.m. Location: Committee Room 2/Video Conference
The Housing Rights Advisory Committee received the item for information.
HS7.2amended
Housing Rights Advisory Committee Chair, Elizabeth McIsaac, will provide an update to the committee.
The Housing Rights Advisory Committee: 1. Recommended that the Chair of the Housing Rights Advisory Committee write letters to the Federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and to the Federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, to express the committee's deep concern regarding the funding cuts to the Interim Housing Assistance Program and the resulting impact on capacity in the City's refugee serving community and the wider City shelter system, jeopardizing the City's ability to meet its minimum core obligations to protect, respect and fulfill the human right to adequate housing.
HS7.3received
Mapping Resources for Tenants at Risk and Update on the Situation Table for Housing-at-Risk
Don Nichols, Manager, Grants Unit and Aisha Silim, Manager, Renters Strategy Unit from the Housing Secretariat will provide a presentation on the availability of resources, services and support for tenants who are at risk of displacement and an update on the launch of the new Situation Table for Housing-at-Risk (STAR) in response to Item HS6.3 .
The Housing Rights Advisory Committee received the item for information.
HS7.4received
Deputy Ombudsman (Housing) Reema Patel will provide an update on the Ombudsman Toronto Housing Unit's work to help the City implement the recommendations in its May 2025 report, An Investigation into the City's Response to a Vital Services Outage in a Multi-Tenant Home , which includes providing advice to support the City's application of the Toronto Housing Charter.
The Housing Rights Advisory Committee received the item for information.
HS7.5amended
Supporting Unhoused Rights Holders Working Group Chair Update
The Chair of the Supporting Unhoused Rights Holders Working Group will provide an update and share the outcomes of the group's engagement on the City's Coordinated Access System and its discussions on the need to improve system navigation for people experiencing homelessness.
The Housing Rights Advisory Committee: 1. Requested that the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat work with the General Manager, Toronto Shelter and Support Services to provide an update to the Housing Rights Advisory Committee in the first quarter of 2026 on the human rights outcomes advanced through implementation of the Enhanced Outreach Model at those sites where the model has been applied and for this update to include the following data, where available: a. the number of encampment residents who were displaced to an unknown location, following the serving of eviction notices in the encampment; b. the number of shelter offers, both accepted and refused, that were given to encampment residents, both prior to and after the serving of eviction notices; c. the number of housing offers, both accepted and refused, that were given to encampment residents, both prior to and after the serving of eviction notices; d. the number of encampment residents who accepted shelter offers who have subsequently received permanent housing; and e. the number of encampment residents who accepted shelter offers who have subsequently exited the shelter system.
HS7.6received
Maintaining Housing Working Group Chair Update
The Chair of the Maintaining Housing Working Group will provide an update and share the outcomes of the group's meeting and roundtable discussion with caseworkers and frontline staff on eviction prevention service gaps.
The Housing Rights Advisory Committee received the item for information.
HS7.7received
Improving Access to Housing Working Group Chair Update
The Chair of the Improving Access to Housing Working Group will provide an update and share the outcomes of the group's engagements with the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT), GTA Disability Coalition, and the Housing Secretariat's Access to Housing Team.
The Housing Rights Advisory Committee received the item for information.
HS7.8adopted
Access to Affordable Rental Housing
Equitable access to affordable rental housing in Toronto is central to the progressive realization of the right to adequate housing. To improve housing adequacy, all individuals must have access to housing that is affordable, safe, and enables them to meet their basic needs. As the City works toward integrating affordable homes into the Choice-based Housing Access System, it is essential that staff continue to engage HRAC in this critical work and apply human rights-based considerations and principles in the design, implementation, and continuous improvement process. This can help ensure that affordable housing opportunities are made available to those who may face barriers accessing housing that is affordable, safe, and helps them meet their needs.
The Housing Rights Advisory Committee: 1. Requested the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to continue to consult with the Housing Rights Advisory Committee as it works toward the integration of affordable rental housing into the Choice-based Housing Access System, and present at the November 19, 2025 Housing Rights Advisory Committee meeting on how the City will integrate human rights-based principles in the design, implementation and continuous improvement process of the Choice-based Housing Access System for affordable housing.
Staff recommendation as filed
That the Housing Rights Advisory Committee: Request the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to continue to consult with the Housing Rights Advisory Committee as it works toward the integration of affordable rental housing into the Choice-based Housing Access System, and present at the November 19, 2025 Housing Rights Advisory Committee meeting on how the City will integrate human rights-based principles in the design, implementation and continuous improvement process of the Choice-based Housing Access System for affordable housing.
HS7.9received
Presentation from the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto and the GTA Disability Coalition
David Meyers and Kim Adlard from the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) and the GTA Disability Coalition will provide a presentation overviewing emerging trends about access to housing for people with disabilities in response to Item HS6.7 .
The Housing Rights Advisory Committee received the item for information.
HS7.10deferred
Update on the City’s Housing as a Human Right Training Program
Emiko Ono, Manager, Program Policy and Meredith Kratzmann, Senior Strategic Policy Consultant, Program Policy, from the Housing Secretariat will provide a brief update on the City's plans to procure and implement a 'Housing as a Human Right' training program for staff in housing-related City divisions, agencies, and corporations.
The Housing Rights Advisory Committee: 1. Deferred consideration of Item HS7.10 until the November 19, 2025 meeting of the Housing Rights Advisory Committee.