Know your rights. Learn from your peers.
Although every jurisdiction in Ontario has different by-laws and policies, all municipalities operate within a framework set by Ontario’s Planning Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code.
In this section, you will find resources to help you protect the rights of your tenants and clients, based on the experience of providers in Toronto and beyond.
Human Rights
The right to live in the community of one’s choice
- Ontario Human Rights Commission, Policy on human rights and rental housing
- OHRC, In the Zone: Housing, human rights and municipal planning
- OHRC, Room for everyone: Human rights and rental housing licensing
- Planning and human rights: legal cases
Community engagement
Yes-In-My-Backyard
Revised for a third printing in 2005, HomeComing’s guide is still relevant to anyone developing affordable or supportive housing.
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Beyond the Backyard Fence
HomeComing’s guide to being a good neighbour, without undermining the rights of your tenants.
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Six Steps to a Successful Community Engagement Strategy
This classic guide from California draws on extensive research – an invaluable guide for shelters, supportive housing or other housing and services.
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Answering the unanswerable
Sometimes questions demand a little human rights education with the answer
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Protecting the dignity – and the rights – of the people you serve
Under pressure to make compromises that are not in the best interest of the people you serve? Here’s when to push back.
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Red Door Shelter Welcome Strategy
When the Red Door Family Shelter relocated, they brought out the best in their future neighbours. The result: about 60 happy neighbours attended an open house – featuring a cake from the local BIA -- positive local news, and a good start in a new location.
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HomeComing's deputation to support Toronto's new engagement strategy
On April 13th, 2017, Toronto's Community Development and Recreation Committee approved a new community engagement process for emergency shelters. Here is what HomeComing said.
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HomeComing's deputation on the City's proposed multi-tenant house strategy
On October 26th, 2017, Toronto's Executive Committee considered a zoning and licensing strategy for the City's rooming houses. Here's HomeComing's take.
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Toronto's Municipal Shelter By-law
The City of Toronto continues to have an obsolete version of its Municipal Shelter By-law posted on its website. Here is the correct version as amended by the Ontario Municipal Board.
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Community Benefits of Supportive Housing
BC Housing draws on current research to respond to questions about property values, safety, value for money and more
DownloadShelters
- Toronto Hostel Services
- Toronto Street Needs Assessment 2013
- Toronto Municipal Shelter Bylaw (passed 2003) now posted on the City’s website
- The Toronto Municipal Shelter By-law, as amended by the Ontario Municipal Board, 2004
Rooming houses
- Toronto’s regulatory and licensing strategy for multi-tenant houses and consultation plan
- Toronto’s current rooming house policies
- Results of Toronto’s rooming house consultations, 2015
Inclusionary zoning
- Government of Ontario, Promoting Affordable Housing Act, December 7, 2016
- City of Toronto, Response to the Provincial Inclusionary Zoning Consultation, August 9, 2016
- Government of Ontario, Inclusionary Zoning Summary and Discussion Guide, August 2016
- Bill 7, Promoting Affordable Housing Act, 2016
- Jennifer Keesmaat, What is Inclusionary Zoning and why does it matter? April 2015
- Background information from Inclusionary Housing Canada