Everyone, we're going to get started. Um, everyone's in place, everyone's online. A reminder to the committee members online. We need to have your cameras on so that you count for quorum and so that we can see you when you raise your hand and just generally so we can see you. Um, so good morning. My name is Elizabeth McKisac. I'm the chair of the housing rights advisory committee. The clerk has confirmed that we have quorum. So I'd like to call meeting 12 of the housing rights advisory committee to order. This is our last meeting of this term. Welcome everyone. This meeting is being held with committee members and staff participating both by video conference and in person at city hall in committee room 2. Members of the public may also attend in person or observe the meeting on YouTube. And because we are meeting in person and remotely, I ask for your patience with any delays or technical issues. If you are registered to speak at today's meeting, please listen for me to call your name. I will call speakers in the order that they appear on the list. The list of speakers can be viewed online by visiting the housing rights advisory committee at toronto.ca count/counsel and clicking the speakers box. For today's meeting, I request that staff and invited participants as well as all observers joining remotely keep their video turned off unless they need to speak or answer questions. This will make it easier for me as chair to see the members as we debate and vote on the agenda items. And members, for quarum purposes, as already noted, and for participation in the meeting, it's important for you to keep your cameras on. I also ask that your microphones are muted unless you wish to question staff or speak to an item. Members, if you wish to speak to an item, please raise your hand or unmute your microphone and indicate your intention to speak. When voting on an item or a motion, I ask members to raise your hand and indic to indicate your vote. I also remind members that if you have any motions on any of the agenda items that they must be submitted in writing and can be emailed to staff at hactorronto.ca. Although we may be meeting in different locations today, the housing rights advisory committee would like to acknowledge that we that the land we are meeting on is the traditional territory of many nations including the missagas of the credit, the Anesnabek, the Chipawa, the Hodnachoni and the Wendat peoples and today is home to many diverse first nations, Inuit and Matei peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Missagas of the Credit. So let's begin our final meeting of this particular committee. Uh may I have a motion to confirm the minutes from our meeting of May 29th, 2026? Thank you, SOA. Um all those in favor, may I see a show of hands? Thank you. Carried. Um before we move on to the items of business on today's agenda, there is one new business item I need to bring to your attention. Um it is entitled Advancing More Supportive Housing to Address Homelessness and Create Pathways to Long-Term Housing Stability. Um I believe this has been circulated. Uh we will add this item to the agenda as uh Huh 12.4. Um, can I have are there any questions or discussion about the addition of this item? Seeing none, um, I would have I would move all in favor of adding this item to the agenda. Can I see a show of hands, please? Right. Any opposed? None. Then that carries. Um, I'd also like to recommend that we reorder the agenda to hear our new business item HS2.4, advancing more supportive housing to address homelessness and create pathways to longterm longterm housing stability. Following item HS2.2, which is the OMBbudsman Toronto's housing unit 3 years in, lessons learned and the road ahead with item HS12.3 being heard last. So, there's a little bit of a a change in order. Are there any questions or discussion about changing the order of the agenda? Seeing none, all in favor of reordering the agenda, may I see a show of hands, please? Good. Thank you very much. Any opposed? None. Then that carries. Before we begin this meeting, I'd like to take the opportunity to recognize Councelor Gourd Perks, who just joined us. Yes, this is also Gourd Perks's last HRAC meeting. Um, and I think as we all know, this is his last term. He has stated publicly that this will be his last time as counselor. He has served this city for 20 years. He has been a disruptor. Started as a disruptor, continued that pattern. Um, and I think you have done everything in your power to leave this city better than when you found it. Um, or at least held ground when the forces were strong. Um, and you have been a just a phenomenal um, force to look after the most vulnerable in our city. You also chose to be on this committee. You're busy. City councilors have a lot to do. And this was one more committee that you said, "Yep, I'll be there." And I can still recall him saying to me, I'm not sure about this human right to housing business, but it if it means more vulnerable people are going to get housing that is affordable, deeply a affordable and stable, and we build more supportive housing, then I'm in. And I remember saying, well, I think that's kind of what the right to housing is about. So, I think we're going to be okay. Um, at a personal level, and you've shown up to all of these meetings, which is I know what your schedule's like, and I really appreciate it. I think we all appreciate it. We appreciate your guidance. You've also done something at an individual level. So I as as chair and I think a number of us on the committee as well have had the benefit of you saying here's how you want to get what you want to get done. Um because you are I think you have a reputation for being the counselor uh that actually knows more about how things work around here than anybody else. Um, and so you have given me incredible guidance on how to be as effective as I could be. As flawed as I've been, you've helped me be more effective. And when we when we first started this, uh, Gourd said, "Let's take some time and sit down and we'll talk about what this is about." And he said, "Here's my advice to you. When you take on a role like this, pick the one thing. Pick the one thing that you want to see this thing do. Um, and then just put all your energy into making that happen. Um, and I I struggled with that question because I didn't know what the one thing was. Our mandate is so wide. It is structural. It's about getting the city to have the right to housing wired into its DNA. And I thought, how do I pick one thing without leaving so much behind? And so I did take that as a north star to just stay focused and to stay with the principles of the right to housing to make sure that we could hear from as many rights holders as we could that we focused on the most vulnerable as often as we could um and to to get this thing in place so that it would stay here and continue to hold the city of Toronto accountable to the right to housing. So I didn't really follow your instructions ever, >> but I did my best because I think it was wis I think it was good wisdom. In any case, I think on behalf of the committee, a tremendous gratitude. Uh you have helped us be sharper, be focused, and figure out how to get what we want said in said in a way that gets heard. And so just incredible gratitude for your leadership on this committee at the city and in the city, the city of Toronto more broadly, not just city council. So thank you. Are you blushing? Okay, on to the business of today. Uh the first item is HS 12.1 an overview of 2025 exec 28.2 implementation of ombbudzman's recommendations and city council directives on the city's response to a vital services outage in a multi-tenant home. Municipal licensing and standards are with us today to provide an update on the action summarized in item EX28.2 two directed by city council to protect better to better protect tenants affected by vital services disruptions. Um are there any questions from uh so then over to you actually for the presentation. Uh welcome look forward to hearing. >> Wonderful and good morning uh chair and committee members um and thanks for having us uh today especially at your last meeting. Um my name is Mitch TBO. I'm the manager of the policy team at municipal licensing and standards. I'm joined by Joanna Hazelden who is the direct director of policy and strategic support at our division. Um we also have some staff um from the rental service standards team as Janet and Lorraine over there then are happy to answer any questions about um the update we'll be providing um today. So we'll jump right into the presentation um which is to provide a a update to the committee on the progress made related to recommendations from the ombsman on a vital service outage in a multi-tenant home um that occurred in 2023. Um just some general background I I believe that many of members of the committee are are aware of this particular report and this um particular vital service outage. Um but in in May of 2025, the city and including many divisions um received recommendations from the AMDsman Toronto as well as city council um about um improvements that were needed to to programs and policies related to a a vital service outage that occurred in a multi-tenant home in 2023 and lasted um for approximately 6 months. Um so uh generally this issue occurred in September 2023. Um multi-tenant house tenants were left without heat or hot water um and tenants on one floor without power. Um staff delayed action for a few weeks, failed to follow proper procedures, um and did not issue an order to immediately restore vital service outages. As a result of that and as a result of the almondsman's report um the city council adopted these recommendations which are about 26 recommendations from the almondsman um and six from city council about um about the investigation about improvements to the city's existing programs. Um so we're here to provide an update on the status of those recommendations and their implementation. In addition to that, um the city did provide an update report um to city council in December of 2025. So, we'll summarize that report and also provide um a few updates on the work that's been done um since then. >> Um great. And just a context set, um there are many different divisions that are involved in the city's response to a vital service outage and the potential for tenant displacement. Um us here at MLS are responsible for enforcing bylaws related to vital services and property standards. Um of course uh housing secretariat is here and they're responsible for um you know delivering the attendant support programs including the epic program. Um Toronto emergency management um who unfortunately aren't here today but we're happy to take any specific questions back to them. um are responsible for administering the short-term emergency social services program um for any residents that might be impacted by um specific emergencies. And there also um other divisions involved that are noted here including social development who oversees um the star table. And this slide just provides an update on the content that was outlined in the December 2025 um report back to council about action that the city has taken as a result of the Albinsman's investigation. Um I'll just quickly provide an overview of of some of these actions. Um the first being additional processes for responding to vital service requests on the MLS side. During the this investigation, um MLS did have existing procedures that were not followed. Um and since then, we've attempted to strengthen staff accountability. We've introduced a vital service review checklist. We've we do daily tracking of vital service requests. We've set stricter timelines for staff's response to these um particular requests from tenants. Um and we continue to enhance staff oversight. We're trying to use data um in a more efficient way and also work with um the 311 team to improve how service requests are escalated to us um to ensure that we're responding um promptly. In addition to that, we're working on enhancing staff training. We've reissued enforcement training to all relevant staff on the rental standard services team. Um, we've also uh enhanced the annual training we do on all of division's operating procedures and MLS staff have also received targeted training from HS on tenant rights and relevant housing legislation. We've also been working with the OMBbudsman to revise our standard operating procedures to ensure there are clear investigation and communication protocols. Um we also participated in various workshops with the ombudsman's office to ensure the SOPs are um clear to staff um and detailed to ensure it it enables staff to investigate service requests consistently and appropriately. Uh in addition to that, as part of a report earlier this year, we also clarified the division's use of remedial action was which is a tool that could specifically respond to issues uh issues of vital service outages. Um and happy to speak to that in more detail uh if there are any questions. In addition to that, um I know HS could speak to this in a bit more detail, but there's an ongoing um and work that's happening on the EPIC side um to ensure that any any gaps are identified and responded to. And finally, just on the public reporting side, I'll note that MLS and the RSS team has published an annual report earlier in June, which includes um a lot of data uh on our service requests and charges related to all of our um tenant support programs um which includes like short-term rentals, multi-tenant housing um uh and rent safety. Um great. In the next few slides are just a few updates from uh the three relevant divisions about work that has happened since December 2025 when we reported to council last. Um on the MLS side, um we've made further enhancements to our service request tracking and communication. We've established a dedicated 301 category for vital service disruptions. Um, we've worked with the customer experience division to um have better investigation results and enhance communication about vital service service requests when they're submitted um to 311. In addition to that, we've established additional escalation processes for uh repeat service requests um and made sure those escalations are are happening to supervisors and management um as soon as possible. Um, in addition to that, we finalized all of our standard operating procedures and their edits with the OMBbudsman um and have published those out and are doing staff training actively to ensure they're aware um of any changes to those procedures. And as for the housing secretariat, um that division has procured an external consultant to develop and implement um housing as a human right training for city staff um with that roll out beginning in Q3 of this year. And as I mentioned, the review of the Epic service policy is um ongoing and I'm I'm sure Matt will be happy to speak to that in more detail as needed. Um and we know that the ESS response here was um there were a lot of questions about this and a lot of gaps identified. Toronto Emergency Management has clarified some of their public communications um related to how they support tenants under their existing emergency response protocol. They've also established an activation policy with MLS in the event of a vital service outage that has rendered a home uninhabitable or that might result in potential tenant displacement. And notably, they are the division is undergoing review of their emergency human services policy um which is being uh informed by a lot of research and and jurisdictional um analysis and consultation with other emergency response partners. So that work is active. Um and they the division will be reporting back in early 2027 um on their findings. Um as for next steps, we'll you know continue to work through the outstanding um recommendations from the omsman and from city council uh and work to provide updates both to council and this committee as we continue on through this work. That's it. Great. That's it for the presentation. We're happy to take any questions or or comments. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Um, so I'll open it to the committee if there are questions um to Mitch to to MLS or to the housing secretariat on the report back. >> Yes, Annie, >> thanks for the the report. Um I worked on tenant services for for about six years and I uh through that time heard from renters who were facing displacement including people living in MTH's and in similar situations where there might be you know complex issues leading to potential displacement and it was it's heartening to hear that Epic is is sort of looking at um being a bit more transparent. I understand that it's a uh sort of high high um uh the the work is very resource intensive and so I do understand the the um referral kind of pathways that the city had set up but I'm just wondering if there um I'm not super familiar with all the details of this case but I'm wondering um what was the role that Epic was playing in this or or or and and what um what might sort of one of the issues that renters face in these situations is they're directed at so to so many different places and that's that's something I'm hoping maybe there's one place they can go and it's sort of coordinated and I think that's what you're speaking to but I'm just curious if any more information about what EPIC's role was and and what the changes might be anything you're able to share to make it easier for people to kind of access those services thank you >> thanks Annie and through the chair I can take your question for the housing secretary area. So um in this case the ombbudsman found one of the core issues was that the vital services in the home were disrupted and were not turned back on. So the home became um uninhabitable. Um the way EPIC is meant to function is to support tenants who are in immediate risk of eviction with sustaining their housing and then also sometimes working to support finding alternate housing if that pathway isn't available. One of the the main findings out of the OMBbudsman's investigation was that the relationship between the EPIC program and MLS and Toronto Emergency Management um who was meant to step in in these cases and help people with emergency alternate accommodation. That pathway and relationship wasn't clear. So referral pathways weren't clear, policies weren't documented about how these cases were meant to be supported. And so part of the opportunity is to just better and that's been the work of the housing secretariat and the epic team is to provide more clarity for staff working in Epic about how these referral pathways work. Um and also to publish some information on the city's website as you mentioned um you know EPIC is a referral based program that is very very high demand but also making more public information available about EPIC and the types of supports um it provides but typically the the function of EPIC is to help people stay in their homes and avoid eviction. this case um had a lot of other elements going on and other city divisions involved, but that's been some of the work that the EPIC team has done um as a result of the investigation in this case. >> Thank you. Um through through the chair um uh thank thanks so much. And I as someone who'd worked in that system when the referral to Epic was made, knowing the purpose of Epic, I wasn't sure what the role would be. So that's great. if Epic can step in in these situations, that's good. Um, if if it can expand the mandate, but the mandate wasn't necessarily um, you know, what what I what I thought would be helpful. So, thank you >> board. >> Yeah. Um, just let let's pursue that a bit. So, my understanding is that it, as you said, EPIC is for keeping people in their homes and we have a different process when people are losing their homes. Has any of the work that's been done here looked at that other protocol which is the Red Cross protocol? >> Yeah, so that's another big part of the work that uh Toronto Emergency Management um they've been engaged through this process. They had a number of recommendations as well. Um and they're as as MLS mentioned going through a broader policy review about that emergency response program which will come forward next year which is looking at ensuring those services and supports are available in the right cases um and they provide the right type of support over the right amount of time. So yes absolutely. >> So so it's not that lay person reading this without a background in it would think we're giving Epic the responsibility for the emergency evacuation. if you will. We're not doing that. We're keeping that relationship with the Red Cross where it belongs >> through the chair. Yes. So that would be Epic is not responsible for rehousing people in the event of an emergency. It's not an emergency response program in that way. That's what the Red Cross contract is about and continues to be about. Um so the counselor is correct. >> It happens. >> Thank you for the clarity on that. Are there other questions from the committee at this point? Uh Joy. >> Um yes, sorry to do with this without doing it properly. Tech problems. Um so I really appreciated the uh information on the response to the Budson's report. I noticed that numbers of items that would be of particular interest to tenants um that was related to Epic um run emergency management. Excuse me. Um, and I'm wondering I see that they are sort of described as sort of uh at the OMBbudsson's office and that they were going to be go through that process. Um, and my question is is um is that happening and I'm curious this is where the stuff that's important to move quickly and I'm wondering what the timetable might be for this and uh if it is slowed down or stuck there if there's anything we can do to unstick it. clarify >> if through the chair or may I clarify Jo to make sure I understand you're confirming are the implementation of the recommendations across these divisions proceeding are there delays or issues that we're experiencing um sort of in general how is the timeline on the implementation of the the recommendations >> sure >> is that okay maybe I'll turn it over MLS MLS at a high level to provide like an overview of the the status. >> Okay. Through the chair. So I would say just in general MLS's recommendations that were specific for our divisions I would say are pretty substantially complete. I would also say that um not that they're straightforward but they are the the the ones within our control. We can update our SOPs. We've worked really closely with the ombbudsman's office. Um the other pieces around tenant support are still ongoing. So I would mention in particular um the work that emergency management is doing around their um policy that they are tracking to Q1 2027. We are you know we are beholdened by council terms as well. So so you know there's a six-month blackout period that we can't do any reporting. Um so we are kind of constrained by that. But yes, the work is ongoing. Absolutely. I mean this is such a critical this is critical work for us. Um the recommendations were very important. So we're all collectively working on this together. So I don't know if that answers your question but yes we are uh the work continues. Is that >> I'm wondering I'm wondering if I've been looking at an obsolete information sheet uh which which had a list of items that were you know happening happening happening and there was a list of about nine or 10 things that were you know it's like at the at the budsman's office and that was kind of where it was. >> I would say the best reference to use is the presentation that's attached to the item. Yeah, this was something that came out earlier related to this item being on the agenda, I think. So, I'm not sure. Anyway, there may have been a mixup. So, but the information you've given me has been helpful. Thank you. >> Yeah. And I would say Joy, too, if you wanted to follow up separately, just if there's particular questions that you have, we'll make sure we'll get you the answer. >> Thank you. >> Um, Sroa. Um yeah, thank you for advancing this work. I was just curious about um the budget for the EPIC program and if any increases in the budget are uh whether you think they're going to assist um some of the gaps that um you mentioned about the referral pathways and um whether more staff whether there's a plan to hire more staff and whether you think that will also support um advancing this work. So through the chair, and this will test my memory, but our I know our housing to annual update report last year detailed how much Epic has grown uh under this term of council and under um Mayor Chow. I think over last year there's some 42% increase in the number of households served through EPIC and that builds on an increase from the prior year. Um I'll look to my team to help dig up the details and we can get those to you. So there's been significant increased investment in Epic because this council's recognized the importance of keeping people in their homes as the most effective way to preserve affordable housing. Um in terms of the recommendations from the ombbudsman to the council's point earlier, the key um action here to resolve this instance is that the vital services bylaw was properly enforced and those vital services were kept on. Um so additional epic resources in this instance isn't necessarily the solution to the challenge that was faced in this particular multi-tenant home. Um and so I would say the clarification of policies and expectations around the vital services and then the availability of emergency management if people do need to be relocated were the primary um solutions to the problem that was identified in this case. But I see um I'll get we'll get more details to you on the amount that investment in Epic has increased over the last few years because it's been consistent with some of the other tenant support programs as well. >> Lindsay, >> uh so with where we are right now, do you think this will uh not happen in the future? >> So through the chair, a couple of things. Um I believe when this in or when this incident occurred, there was no um multi-tenant house framework in effect. So, the new regulatory framework that council adopted a a few years ago um was not in effect at the time of this uh vital services outage. And so, what that means is there's a substantially greater amount of city oversight going on in multi-tenant homes and efforts across divisions to bring those into a regulatory framework, get them licensed, um which ensures that those homes are safer for tenants and those buildings are more properly maintained. So, that's really a key difference. And maybe I'll hand it over to MLS to speak about how some of the changes to their um policies would mean a situation like this happening today would would have resulted differently. >> Uh so I think a big thing for us was that this fell through the cracks, right? Like they they didn't have heat or hot water for 6 months. And so it was really a a a deep review of our oversight and our policies and procedures. Um and I'll just give you a quick example. Uh through our work with 311, we've uh made it easier to report, but we weren't getting duplicates before. So if someone reported an issue at an address and then a person reported it next day, we wouldn't get that. So So now that so for all vital services, if someone calls 10 times, that's like a key like, hey, there's really something going on. They're not getting service. So, it's it's changes like that that not only do we have better training um and better processes and procedures, but we also have things that that are meant to catch those, hey, there's still a priority one call out there that hasn't been addressed. So, we'd like to think um that this wouldn't happen again. Um certainly there's always a chance that that um officers you know like it thing things happen but that there's more safety nets in place. So yeah, we've we've done a lot of work internally. Followup, I guess just that there is a easily identifiable um escalation process. So in the past and when this happened, if you wanted to report this instance, it was under property standards. You'd have to know that and then you'd have to go under and then you'd have to look and then it was no heat, no hot water. Now we have it's a very first topline category. No heat, no water. So just that simple change made it it's easier for the people reporting, but it's also easier for the um 311 agents to find it as well. Um yeah and it's all and and it like um when it come just through the back end when it comes in and and how it's prioritized um we fixed all that too. So it's a bit of human training, a bit of technology updates um that sort of thing. So yeah, it's pretty pretty comprehensive on our end for sure. >> Um I think that that's a critical piece in terms of preventative. We can't just be looking at responding to emergencies uh particularly for people who are most vulnerable which are the people who are living in multi-tenant housing um because it's the most deeply affordable market options. Um part of this and and it's good to see that the human rights training is happening through the through the system. Part of a human rights approach also means that you're identifying the human rights outcomes and ensuring that those are being achieved. Uh so recognizing that uh particular people will be more vulnerable in this instance. uh they may have disabilities, they may be from uh racialized communities that are disproportionately uh low uh living in in the in housing that we're talking about. Um and so I just wonder if that has been part of your process in identifying the human rights outcomes that you want to see this system have going forward. And I'm not sure I'm looking at MLS, I'm looking at the housing secretariat. I know human housing rights training is happening, but it's more than training. It's beginning to put it into play by identifying what those human rights outcomes should be. through through you. Yeah, I mean yes, part of the training is about embedding that knowledge more broadly, but I think the divisions that are um involved here and are increasingly um coordinating on other um types of work are are very focused on monitoring and tracking the actual outcomes of these these actions and investments. I certainly expect in the um coming report next year on the emergency social services policy which provides a lot of support to tenants who are in emergencies that will also be a a focus is um making sure outcomes around housing stability are realized. That is really where the EPIC program actually comes in in this case is once tenants are displaced and have temporary accommodation, they can't come back to their original home. That's typically where EPIC gets involved after the emergency has passed. Um and so once you're linked into our epic programs as well, there's through our programs, we track those housing outcomes um and report to those count to through um our annual reporting to council. Um so yes, >> part of that also is the analysis at the front end. Uh so identifying where there's individuals who are in a sit in the situation that they were in in this particular instance were was the assessment beginning with what their needs were in particular and ensuring that that was being um prioritized and I'm seeing heads nodding. So the answer is yes. Okay, great. Um are there any other questions from the committee? I don't see any. There are no speakers to the item, but I do want to note that there were submissions received um from Nico Nicole Curado uh who raised the issue of people with disabilities. Um this was also on the agenda last at our last meeting and got deferred to today. Um and I would note that Cheryl Casease with community and public CP planning submitted um had been signed up to Debute but did submit a letter that identified many of the questions that have been asked here today um to the extent that um we need to go beyond emergency response um identifying that there are particular uh communities that are going to be impacted um and um also the role of tenant associations in engaging on these issues. So, I think that those are pieces that have all been picked up. Um, and most importantly that a human rights approach is not limited to after tenants are harmed. So, I think we're hearing that many of these pieces um through this process have been put in place. So, thank you to Nicole and to Cheryl. Yes, Gourd, please. >> Yeah. So I I think this is actually a good example of why this committee is important and uh an example of how this committee is getting outcomes. Simply put, the city of Toronto has more than 50 service areas and each of them delivers multiple services and it's just bewildering. Um you know, I've been doing this 20 years. I I have neighbors come and ask me, "Who do I call about this?" And I have to scratch my head and look stuff up. And that's that's an insurmountable problem. People interact with public services in hundreds of ways every single day. And you can't um say, "Well, you should just know which service to call, especially for vulnerable people." And so given that dilemma uh that you you know imposing more and more responsibility to understand a complex system on on folks isn't going to work and rejigging an already complicated organizational chart isn't going to address the fundamental thing. What we have brought to the conversation is that all the frontline workers who could be engaging in any way with someone who's precariously housed now have an additional part of their training which centers the needs of that person through a rights lens. And that means that those individual staff will be better equipped to approach it from instead of trying to figure out, you know, which case number this is, putting the person's needs and rights at the center of how they they deal with them. And I think that's the big breakthrough that we've seen. Um, we could argue for days about where the boundary between different service areas are, but that's something that's kind of interesting to us, but doesn't matter to someone in crisis. And making sure that those people who are arriving when the crisis happens or getting calls when the crisis happens have a new suite of training tools is really, I think, the big breakthrough that I've seen in the last few years in these services. and it's because of this the work of this committee and members of the community who've been advocating for it. So feel good. >> Thank you, Gordon. And and I think that that is a big part of the breakthrough and we'll see that in in the report that we've put together. I think the challenge ahead is to are we able to track that and be accountable to that so people can be trained for things? They can ask the right questions. Are they empowered by who's above them to do that work to carry it forward and does that get tracked? And I think that's the work that lies ahead. So, thank you. Um, I would move then at this point uh to receive the item and may I see a sh show of hands. All in favor? Thank you. Thank you everybody. Uh carried. The next item is uh 12.2 OMBbudsman Toronto's housing unit three years in lessons learned and the road ahead. It's my pleasure to welcome Reema Patel, the deputy ombbudsman for housing, who will deliver a verbal update on the past three years since the establishment of the ombbuds Toronto housing unit. Welcome Reema and over to you. >> Thank you to the chair and thank you to the committee for having me today. So as the chair said, I'd like to share with you some reflections after having led ombbedsman Toronto's housing unit for the past three years. So earlier this month, my team convened a roundt discussion for members of the housing rights community in Toronto to strengthen condition connections and also to learn about new issues that people are facing. At one point we were discussing city advisory tables which as you know are set up to gather community input and inform city policies and programs. And one of the participants was speaking about their frustrations with coming to these tables. And she talked about, you know, the burden of sharing the trauma that shelter clients experience um when they're not able to find permanent housing. um that trauma being compounded with the impacts of gender-based violence. And then the participant said that they don't see changes happening fast enough in the shelter system. So I responded, this was my reaction. And I responded saying, "Yeah, but you know, the reason why things move slow in government is because it takes a while to channel that feedback up back into policy and program design and then to bring reports to city council and then work towards implementing programs. And that's why it might feel delayed." And she simply looked at me and said, "People die waiting." And the moment stayed with me because it was the reminder I needed that the demand for accountability for the city's housing services is acute. Because when we don't act fast enough and when we don't use all available resources to fulfill the human right to adequate housing, people simply die. So, as many of you know, it's been three years since OMBbuds the OMBbudsman took city council's recommendation to create a deputy ombbudsman for housing with a team responsible for investigating and holding the city accountable on its housing rights commit commitments. The strengths that my team bring to this role are the ombbudzman's unique legislative powers to conduct systemic investigations and compel evidence as well as our independence from the city administration. What's different about my unit though is that we have a mandate not just to apply a fairness lens on our work but also a right to housing lens and also that we have a mandate to advocate at a systems level including to other levels of government for the right to housing. I began working in the OMBbuds field in 2012 with the province and one of the most frequent critiques of ombbudsman work I I hear comes from staff and government. It goes something like this. What do you know about any of our work? You sit in your ivory towers and you swoop down and you tell us what we did wrong and then you come and you tell us how to fix it. And the criticism is valid and I understand it having spent 5 years working in city divisions. My team's approach to holding the city accountable on its right to housing commitments is to begin with the understanding that we don't know what we don't know and that systems can change when we understand why the current one isn't working. As everyone here knows, the housing crisis has become so entrenched and so big that it's easy for the average person to say this problem must be way too hard to solve. So why even bother? Why start? The way that my team builds our knowledge base is by staying on top of research, legal, and policy developments as well as arguments within and outside Canada to interrogate the logic underneath the housing crisis so that it informs our analysis as well as our recommendations. One resource that has been critical to staying on top of things has been ATRA and the work of its working groups. So, I want to thank the committee deeply for being a valuable resource to us along the way. While many of the issues we work to resolve come largely through complaints that member of the public that members of the public bring to us, we also recognize that many people, especially those facing housing procarity, experience barriers in coming to us directly since we are a government organization. By going directly to them, building relationships, engaging in dialogue, we seek out stories about issues with city services or programs that may otherwise never have come our way. Since we opened, my team have done 85 engagement sessions with over 500 people, including community members and leaders, service providers, research and policy experts, advocates, and most importantly, people with lived experience of housing procarity and homelessness. Meeting people where they're at exposes us to a range of different complaints and issues we never otherwise would have heard about. And what's more, it leads to tangible results. It's led to the launch of three investigations, one of which we just heard about was our investigation into the city's response to a rooming house fire. As I said earlier this month, we convened 25 members of the housing rights community and we heard about issues related to landlord tenant relations and social housing, a lack of accessibility in housing and shelters, inconsistent and inadequate supports for people facing evictions, community feedback not being meaningfully considered, and a lack of understanding of what the right to housing looks like in practice at the city. But it wasn't the first time we were hearing about these issues. But I think that's the point. What came through for me was the way that these issues have compounded and morphed over the years of not being swiftly addressed. To quote the participant I mentioned at the beginning, people die waiting. To people outside our office, it may seem a bit opaque what my team does. You often hear from us when we've published a big investigation report or maybe you see the OMBbudsman's annual report. Because formal investigations are so timeconuming and resource intensive, we deploy them when it's absolutely necessary. When a pro when a problem appears so widespread or the impact on people is so serious that we believe it's in the public interest to launch a full-scale investigation. Since my unit is was established in 2023, we've published two investigation reports. I've spoken about both of them at HRA, but this year we launched two new investigations which were conducting confidentially in line with our legislation. We will report on them publicly when they're finished. But I want to impart that formal investigations are a fraction of what we do. Much of my team's work happens behind the scenes. We engage in something called preventative onbudsmanship in which we learn about an issue and then if necessary we speak directly to the city to understand it more deeply and sometimes we offer advice if they want it on how to improve the service quickly. This saves us the time and the resourcing of having to conduct a full investigation and can often prevent harm before it occurs. And sometimes, and I see this as an indicator of growing trust, city divisions come directly to us for advice. To date, we've provided direct advice on 13 housing related files to divisions like the Housing Secretariat, Toronto Shelter and Support Services, MLS, City Planning, Revenue Services, and 311, as well as TCHC and TSHC. We take a proactive and strategic approach to lending our advice to city staff where needed so that they can align their policies and their programming with the housing charter as well as the principles of administrative fairness before more people are adversely impacted. We've also explored the advocacy aspect of our mandate which is to advocate at a systems level for the right to housing. Late last year, we wrote an open letter to the federal housing and immigration ministers urging them to fund the city properly through its IHAP program to ensure enough shelter beds for refugee claimments and asylum seekers. We made the choice to do that because we know the city cannot achieve the pro the promise of the housing charter without adequate cooperation from other levels of government. Over the past three years, I'm proud to say that my small team has built the kind of independent housing accountability mechanism that people participate in, come to, learn from, and demand more of. We're building the kind of accountability that goes directly to people and invites them in and asks what it can do for them. It's the kind of accountability that puts rights holders at the very center of its work and doesn't wait for harm to occur to people before looking into a matter. And after the work is done, we come back to people to say, "This is what we were able to do." And then we talk about how we could have done it better. I want to end by saying everybody here in this room is here for the same reason, to make the city into a place where everyone has a place to call home. But we have to do it in sync strategically with better dialogue and bolder commitments and faster timelines. And this is why spaces like HRE are so important. This is where we see cross- sectoral collaboration, people sharing knowledge, building stronger bridges from people who experienced the worst impacts of the housing crisis right up to the people in our city with tremendous decision-making power and with it tremendous responsibility. HRA and OMBbudsman Toronto's housing unit are three years in now. The city's work on advancing the right to housing is well on its way. So, not only is the foundation there, but the momentum is there, too. And we have work to do. My hope is that ATRA is reestablished under the new city council and that it builds on the incredible work of this iteration of ATRA. My goal for my team is to work faster, smarter, and with the utmost accountability for people impacted by the housing crisis. And my hope for the city administration is that it will continue to work with us towards the progressive realization and the right to housing steadily and in lock step with us. And we all need to move a little bit faster because when we don't, people die along the way. Thank you. >> Thank you very much, Reema. Um I think the committee is going to have questions and want to engage with you. But first we have a speaker. Um we have one registered speaker. It is uh Arnold Margulus. Is Arnold in the room or is Arnold online? There you are. So Arnold uh you have is it three minutes or five minutes? >> You have five minutes. So over to you. Uh thank you very much and I appreciate Miss Patel for presenting very interesting uh overview of uh how currently the ombbudsman's office work including to my surprise that you inter intervene on in some cases on immediate basis uh which is something new based on my previous experience with the opin office and this is this is a good progress. So uh talking about uh today's uh matter of my presentation I think it's an ideal case for opensman because it encompasses a lot of current problems of the city law enforcement and housing corporations that basically ideal forman uh to investigate. I'm a tenant of Toronto seniors housing corporation and uh just uh uh I already presented this story to the uh city council housing committee and uh the uh the city council in some written form and my recommendations and suggestions but I wanted to repeat it to you. By the way, I was here on this committee before. Uh so basically I moved into the assigned unit like about 3 years ago and there were significant deficiencies in the building when I started reporting the deficiencies including uh the uh shutdown ventilation in common areas, shut down water in common areas. Uh the temperature in laundry was at 4550° C intentionally I believe and so on. So the local building staff just drilled the holes through the floor of the unit above mine and supplied the tenant with uh uh the fumigators and started to fumigate my unit with toxic chemicals and uh that tenant was not uh uh was engaged in that activity before and was basically exploited her her criminal activities were exploited by staff. So uh as a result uh you know of course I reported it to the corporate leadership to the board of directors which shown basically complicit uh behavior and they didn't do anything for a long time and uh uh corporate leadership uh refused to do the independent and comprehensive investigation and uh they refused to reverse illegal alterations in the unit above mine. uh the building staff a few of them modified the unit by uh uh altering the water supply and adding chemicals to drinking water. several tenants in the process around my unit either died uh because uh you know in such age uh you need you don't need much to to speed up this or they run away and currently live with relatives while paying rent in their adjacent units for empty units because they are also affected by this and unfortunately my efforts to engage MLS I hope they are still in the in your committee room and uh engage public health in Toronto Police and the Toronto Fire Department and Ministry of Environment of Ontario. They revealed a number of deficiencies, very serious deficiencies which I tried to address and in fact the board of health recommended to revamp the Toronto Public Health environmental enforcement practices. Also the MLS were uh uh submitted documentations on how to modify the property standards uh current version to address environmental violations by the landlord. The police uh needs definitely better training in addressing this issues under the you know the criminal court fire department uh was totally disengaged in terms of showing the carbon monoxide meters and falsely and running away from the property instead of uh you know using their right to enforce including inspectors where faulty inspections of fire department. So you do have a a large uh you know activity here uh you know to deal with whole bunch of issues related to law environmental law enforcement for the tenant rights uh human rights abuses in current housing city housing community housing and seniors housing and also I want to say that they instead of reversing illegal alteration they started evicting me on totally false ground fabric ating case and submitted totally false acquisitions uh to the uh landlord and tenant board trying to evict me and that uh in accurate violation of numerous policies that the board of directors of TSHC is mandated to enforce by the by the um uh by the city council. So uh I do need your immediate engagement in this matter. Thank you. Thank you, Arnold. Um, are there any questions to the speaker uh from the committee at this time? >> Um, Arnold, I I thank you that there was it's a very difficult story that you have shared with us and I I can't imagine the frustration of what you're you're living through. So they think uh it certainly reminds us of the dire need for accountability and responsive uh systems and it it may be that the ombbuds will have comment to that as well. But thank you for bringing that forward. >> Thank you very much. >> Um now that we've heard from our speakers, I'd like to move to questions uh to our presenter uh the deputy ombbudsman for housing Reema Patel. Members, do you have any questions uh at this time? Annie, >> thanks so much for the the report back. It was um really really enlightening and and helpful. Um just a question. And so if the committee is restruuck, which we all of course hope, I was just curious if you have any sort of specific ideas about new ways that HRA can collaborate with the office in any way, but specifically in identifying emerging risks before they become systemic issues. That might be something that, you know, HRA could could focus on. So just wanted to to see if you've got thoughts on that. Thanks. >> Thank you, Annie. Through the chair, uh that's right. I think for the next iteration of HRA, I'd like to see us work a bit more in sync. As I said before, one thing that my team does on our side is we, you know, we watch HRA committee meetings, we review minutes, we look at the work that you're doing and often sometimes it aligns with what we're hearing from community on the ground about how people are experiencing housing issues. Uh we also we also um take great instruction from some of the feedback that you give city council and that informs our approach to our work. I think I know the chair has outlined or the committee has outlined some priorities for the next iteration of of HRA if it is struck and my hope is that I would be able to and my team would be able to work with the committee after it's struck to identify ways to align better Lindsay. >> Yeah, that was really great. I almost there was a few times where I felt emotional like uh it's great to see uh some progress. I guess it's not necessarily for you. It's kind of based on what Arnold had said and just kind of something I wanted to say. It would be helpful for, you know, property or landlord and tenant um legislation for there to be something like a non retaliation um legislation implemented because uh just living uh I identified with Arnold's situation in terms of just even trying to get all the people on board and and just coming to dead ends uh regularly and watching the situations get much worse and just wanting to just give up. And I couldn't imagine then having being retaliated against and trying to evict me and having that on top of it all. Um it would be great if there was something like a non retaliation legislation so that properties landlords couldn't do that for speaking up. Thank you, Lindsay. Through the chair, I think there's there's often a lot of really good ideas that come out of this committee in terms of potentially new amendments to provincial legislation, to amendments to city policy. And so for us as we structure our work when we when we try to determine what to look at next, what issues to investigate next, we always keep an eye on what other levels of government, the role that they play in the issue uh facing people in the city. And so I think what you've done is pointed to an important component of what Arnold was describing. So thank you. Are there other questions to the speaker? Um I don't have a question so much as a maybe a comment. Um we have worked closely I think across these two. We are kind of the the two first cornerstones of of building a right to housing approach at the city and there's been a lot of learning. Um, and I think that I I think of the work that you're doing that you spoke to this morning. Um, you've been asked to push the bounds the boundaries of what a typical ombbudsman does. Um, typically it is about ensuring fairness. Um, and you've been asked to say and can we ensure that there's a human rights approach to this? And so you've talked a little bit about some of the learnings to that. I think it's challenging because because you're you're pushing boundaries. Um where would you as you look to the next 3 or four years and and I think what we have now is a foundation of okay this is what we're doing. This is what it looks like. Um is there a place because I think that we are leaders. I think the city of Toronto is a leader on this in terms of having an ombbudsman that does this. um where do you see sort of the where to go next and how we've talked about how can we work together but where is sort of the ambition of what that might look like because I think it's I don't know I'm I'm combining a bunch of different things but there's also the challenge of working with city um and whether or not what the role of ombbuds is in visav uh the city's role in developing policy but how do you do that together in a way that's productive and achieves the outcomes that we want to get so maybe just some thoughts on that. I've jumbled a bunch of things in and so I'm sorry for that, but over to you. >> It's no problem. Uh through the chair, a few thoughts. Um and I've said this to you before. I see um the work that HRA does, the work that my unit does, the work the housing secretariat is doing to further the progressive realization on the right to housing, I see it as a big change management project. Uh, one of the frequent quotes you'll hear about change management is that culture eats strategy for for breakfast. And I think the city of Toronto, what needs to happen is consistent sustained movement, not just from this committee, not just from members of council who who push issues forward on council floor, and not just from the ombbudzman's office. But I think what needs to happen is a consistent sustained approach, working together, dialoguing together, building on each other's work. I think that makes us stronger. We all play different roles, but when we when we work in our own lanes, but we're driving in the same direction, I think we can get a lot further together. And so for the next few years, one of my uh ambitions is to focus on areas of the city whose programs and services impact people's right to housing that you wouldn't necessarily think of associating with the right to housing. So, you know, you've got the housing secretary, you've got shelters, you've got solid waste, you've got 311, you've got a variety of different uh divisions across the city who are a lot less far along in their journey towards practically applying the right to housing in their work. And so, that's part of what my work will be. And it's not just going in and and and swinging a hammer down. And I know that's a that's a a perception of bbudsman work that's not the kind of onbudsman work that I think is going to be um helpful in in getting us all to the same destination. Uh some of the work that we try to do in my unit is build build relations with city staff and build connection with city staff and understanding where are the pain points, where are the where are the pressures in delivering services, where are staff encountering issues. Um that makes it a lot easier to to come in and say, "Hey, have you thought about this improvement to your service?" because it's coming less from a far away point of criticism and more from a point of I understand how hard this is. I get it, but we have to figure out the best solution together. And so those are a couple of my thoughts on on where we go in the next few years. I'm back. Um, thank you very much. Um, are there any other questions before we um move to receive this item? >> Yes, SOA. >> Thank you for that incredible report um a report back. Um, I'm just curious about the monitoring piece. So I think the ATRA has been tasked with a big um objective to like monitor the the housing action plan and it's among many other tasks. I think the umbsman's office is really crucial in helping us do that as well as you know other groups like right to housing Toronto and I'm just wondering if you have any thoughts on a coordinated coordinated approach to monitoring the housing action plan going forward and um given that we're not I guess we're not entirely sure whether this committee will exist like how can we ensure some longevity and sustainability when it comes to monitoring um Yeah, the next few years. Thank you through the chair. I do believe the housing secretariat is monitoring progress on the implementation of the plan. From an independent onbudsman standpoint, when we engage in our reviews, the housing to plan is one of the the the documents the the pieces of writing that we review city actions against. It's a commitment the city's made. And so when we uh analyze city, you know, what we found when we analyze evidence that is along with the housing charter, that's one of the the the pieces of writing that we uh apply onto the fact patterns that we that we review. However, you did say how can we work together, be more coordinated, and I think this is work for the future. And I really do hope at track is struck again because I would like to to discuss that. Thanks. Thank you. I don't see any other hands going up and so I would like to say thank you to Reema. That was um a really uh thoughtful inspired summary of of what your last three years have been and also I think a good insight into what the future may hold. So, thank you. Um, and thank you for your kind words about the work of ATRO and the importance of all of this. So, with that, I would move to receive this item. And I would ask for a show of hands of those in favor. Thank you. Thank you. And carried. Um, the next item, so we rearranged the agenda a little bit. So, our next item will be um 12.4, 4, advancing more supportive housing to address homelessness and create pathways to long-term housing stability. Uh, members, this is a letter from Lindseay Lemieux, who is a member of our housing rights advisory committee, and it comes with a recommendation. I would like to turn it over to Lindsay at this point to read her letter to us. I think it is it also going on the screen. We don't need to. >> Oh, we can display it, but please go ahead and start to bring it forward. >> Thank you, Elizabeth. Uh, dear housing rights advisory committee members, Toronto is facing an urgent and growing homelessness and housing crisis that continues to place significant strain on individuals, communities, and existing social housing systems, encampments, shelter over capacity, and increasing demand for rentar to income housing reflect a system under pressure and in need of immediate coordinated intervention. A key gap in the current system is a lack of appropriate supportive housing for individuals exiting homelessness, particularly those living with complex mental health and addiction challenges. Without adequate supports, many individuals struggle to maintain stable housing, contributing to the cycles of eviction, homelessness, and overburdened social housing infrastructure. The city must take action to alleviate strain on shelters and ensure tenants can access homes with appropriate levels of support. To address these challenges, the city must continue to advance a permanent supportive housing model built rapidly using pre prefabricated modular units and paired with wraparound supports. Prioritizing a practical, scalable, and proven solution. When combined with strong intergovernmental funding and inclusive planning, this approach can stabilize vulnerable populations, helping to reduce evictions and returns to homelessness and break the cycle of housing instability. This can also serve to reduce system pressures and create a pathway toward long-term housing security and community integration. This approach emphasizes urgency, dignity, and long-term sustainability, ensuring all residents have access to safe, supportive housing, and a path towards stability. In order to achieve this, the city must continue to take steps to advocate for increased intergovernmental funding and coordination, prioritize maximum available resources to deliver more supportive housing, and ensure those with lived experience of homelessness are meaningfully meaningfully involved in informing ongoing advancement of the city's supportive housing programs. So, the recommendations um the the the housing rights advisory committee recommends that city council one prioritize the need for coordinated ongoing sustained investments in support of housing in its advocacy efforts with provincial and federal governments, particularly informing the renewal of the housing, sorry, of the national housing strategy and calling specifically for a increased federal investment in capital funding for rapid construction construction dedicated to delivering supportive housing for people. >> Lindsay, I think the recommendations got slightly adjusted and updated for today. >> Do you want an updated copy? >> I thought this was an updated copy. >> The clerk is telling me that there's a a Okay, we're going to give you a new one. There were there were some tweaks made for the language. So, let me We're just going to pause for 10 seconds while the while the clerk helps us. >> Sorry. >> It's okay. >> You were doing really well and all of it is good. >> We're just going to Here it comes. >> Okay, great. >> Am I really red? >> Sorry. >> So, these are just the updated. >> Okay, perfect. Okay, I'll just uh take it from the top of the recommendation. Okay, thank you. So the the housing rights advisory committee recommends one, the city council to advise the government of Ontario and the government of Canada of the need for coordinated ongoing sustained investments in support of housing in its advocacy efforts with provincial and federal governments, particularly informing the renewal of the housing of the national housing strategy and calling specifically for a increased federal investment in capital funding for rapid construction dedicated to delivering supportive housing for people exiting homeless homelessness. B, provincial operating funding for wraparound support services in supportive housing. And C, federal requirements within provincial health and homelessness transfers for operating funding for wraparound supports. Two, executive committee requests the deputy city manager development and growth services and the deputy city manager community and emergency services to explore opportunities to provide additional supports and incentives to advance more sid city-led and nonprofitled supportive housing development, including but not limited to a continuing to prioritize supportive housing projects for capital and pre-development funding available through the city's rental housing supply program. B, continuing to pri prioritize city- owned land for supportive housing delivery. And C, converting exit existing appropriate shelter sites into supportive housing in alignment with EC16.1. And three, uh, executive committee requests the deputy city manager development and growth services and the deputy city manager community and emergency services identify opportunities to ensure people with lived experience of homelessness are meaningfully engaged in the design and delivery of the supporting housing in alignment with EC 21.6 in the efforts to advance an all of city response to homelessness and support needs. That is an excellent and complete recommendation. Thank you, Lindsay. Um, this is the culmination of a number of discussions at the working group um, off offline. Um, and I just want to first thank you for your leadership in pushing forward this set of ideas. Um, thank you. Um, I'd like to open it now to any questions or comments from the committee. Yes. B. Um I think I think um thank you uh for the the the recommendation. I think what I can think of two way to speed up uh the housing for for people who either you know exit shelter or or encampment people or or people on the street from my understanding I might be wrong but from my understanding there are a lot of waken unit in TCSC building and those unit uh those building to my understanding they are not very good condition and that people don't really want to go there um and to my understanding to my understanding also that when someone I mean the homeless who accept the unit of TCSC See, we will kind of like quote and code will be bound to stay there for life that it's very hard to move out if because you wouldn't know until you move into that building then find oh all this problem all this thing right and like like a few few building like I I I really don't want to go because like to me it's garbage dumb I don't want to go to a place that is garbage dumb That's not safe. That's unclean and that that don't maintain well the building. So I see a problem. Maybe we should uh I mean city to look into that uh the council should look into that. Is it a possibility that um to change the policy that will enable homeless people either from shelter you know or or street or people on the street or encampment people to move to those building and if if we move in and then we find out oh this not the place that I really want to live uh because of uh environment, because of uh whatever you know all kind of reason right that people can move out and don't bound by you know staying there for life that will make it easier like if that is the the policy can change and that is the option I think I will move out you know just get out from the shelter and then move in and then if I like try to adopt adapt and if still quiet I cannot like you know just can't live there then there's a possibility for move to move to another place then I think a lot of people will do that but a lot of people don't want to move out of shelter it's because of this policy that they don't want to go to a place that they cannot move and they have to live you know forever and and that's what I not just me also other people that I talk to uh uh that most of will have this uh um thinking. Yeah. So the other thing uh oh I I lost my thought. Uh yeah there are two two thing I want to talk the other thing um so hopey I mean the the one that I talk the policy can be changed not like move day and then still cannot move but will be flexible you stay you go there and then you not suitable then you can move because I heard a sto uh um some somebody um when they leave the shelter to this TCSC building and then he he he couldn't fit in in that community uh in in that TCSC building. So he want to move but he couldn't and he got so stressed mentally. I don't know what happened to him to him. It seems like you know somebody told me he thinking of suicide but whether they happen or not I don't know but it's really created a lot of uh stress uh uh a barrier to people you know um yeah so the other thing I I just can't I think out of memory I don't know what is that that I was thinking before uh yeah I'll stop here uh when I when I took already by my editor. Thank you. >> Thank you. B Lindsay, do you want to respond? >> Uh yeah, I can respond to that because I have um an option. um you know maybe a a upgraded implementing an upgraded uh TCH tree TCHC transfer policy um could be a solution to that. Uh they recently did upgrade it a little bit um but maybe going further and that could even be something that the next HRA committee works with the Toronto Community Housing Corporation because one of the things we've heard from people speaking but also that I've put in the policy is to address the overburdened social housing system. Um though I understand what you're saying and I think um maybe being a little bit more flexible within the internal transfer system could be a more efficient way than just allowing the you know I think there's room in the transfer system um to support people um exiting homelessness or shelters. >> Yeah. Because like if you if you if you have a uh you live in a market rent unit, right? You go there and then let's say you know someone you know go go to a market rent uh unit and then um find a job. No from east end to west end. It's like I take two two and a half hour to 3 hours to travel by transit. I mean people would like to move to close to the the place they work right. So if you if if for market rent then you can move easily right because you know it's not bound right if you you know have something you know then you can move easily just terminate your your your rent uh rental uh agreement one month notice something like that but if TCSC you know if it's not flexible you know uh uh for the transferring to you know to move to another place that I don't think people will uh it make it make not easy for people to you know travel that far from east end to the west end to work or or or something else you know nobody can predict what's happened in life any circumstance can come up right so that was that's why I said that that that uh uh uh policy or rule that really bow people down and a lot of people want to move into TCSC and it's not TCSC had no vacancy a lot of vacancy from my understanding but nobody want to go oh I I I I I remember the the second thing I want to point out you're on mute I I think you hit the mute button Oh, no. My one is milk. >> There you go. >> Okay. Maybe the thing just go hit it. Uh my hand move and it move. Uh sometime it does that. Um the the other the second point I want to point out is um uh councelor and you councelor uh approved that um uh uh the new affordable rental home program um uh not just for the lottery system but now including the uh LGI 20%. It's a good news and is really thank you for the council the the wisdom and the the uh decision on this. Um I hope I hope I really hope that this 20% will be spit up uh it won't be like you know brought down for another few years become reality. So I hope you will speed up the process and that you become you know available to people uh uh uh you will be I think in that way you will you will make more more um I mean adding more housing supply to people who need the to to to move out uh into a a permanent housing. uh so I don't know what's you know the policy or procedure you know to take place but it was approved and I hope it will be speed up and get in this thing uh the 20% LGI housing uh a new affordable housing program become reality and that will that will um get more people out and and and move into those build uh unit thank you >> thank you be and I think what you've raised are some important guidelines. Um I think Lindsay's motion brings forward some of the the the enhancing the system itself so that it's got greater capacity. It's more responsive to the needs in in the community in the city. And then what you're talking about is how do we do it? How do we ensure that people have voice in the decision-m about where they go and ability to transfer being close to uh where they work, where their kids go to school, whatever their needs are. And and this comes under the elements of the right to housing. Um so proximity to services and supports and community um and adequacy has um a number of dimensions but uh key to the principle also is that you have an ability to be part of that decision-m and so I think that's an incredibly important point. Um are there other comments to Lindsay's um uh recommendation? Uh, and if not, I I think I'd like to ask Lindsay to move it. Move to adopt that our committee can adopt this recommendation, which will go to all of the the levels that you've identified. You say you want to adopt it. Move to adopt it. Excellent. Okay. And so, can we have a all those in favor? Congratulations, Lindsay, and thank you. This is I think one of the most important motions adoption or recommendations that we've made because it really goes to the heart of how the system needs to become more responsive and capable of meeting the needs in the city. So thank you. Okay, we have our last item which is firstterm accomplishments and key priorities of the city's housing rights advisory committee. Um I will provide a brief update. A report was sent out to to you the committee and posted online on Friday. This is the result of a a number of for a a couple of months of work in fact and we started this conversation in uh this committee and also among the working groups that we felt it was important to capture what we've been able to do over the last three years, two and a half years. Um and the point of the exercise was really to to take note how has this been useful? What have we been able to make happen? Um and so with the incredible support of our of our uh colleagues in the housing secretariat, Asha and Meredith, um who began compiling all of the various motions, recommendations, um meetings that we've had, community members that we've heard from. It was an incredible list of things that we've done. This is our 12th meeting. So, we've only met 12 times. And the first time we were just learning basically where the locker was and how to tie our shoes. Um, and so by meeting 12, I think we have really done some some good work in laying the foundation. I think we're still learning. I think there's all kinds of things that we can do better uh that could be done better. Um but that's part of doing something new and and trying trying to do something differently and this committee is about doing something a bit differently. Um so I want to start with a couple of thank yous first to Asha and Meredith who just tremendous work. Appendix the appendix A is it looks very hard to get through. It's 12 pages. It's a chart of all of the motions that we've made and where they ended up and what happened as a result. Um and section one was also a bit of a a thematic um rollup of what have we done on uh centering uh human rights in our work and our thinking and thinking about intersectionalities on how does the city approach encampments um rolling up a summary of what have we done around tenant reductions and security um and the and the list goes on. And I'm not going to go through the whole report, but the point of the exercise is to reflect on a little bit of what Gourd started earlier in the meeting to say what are we contributing to how the city is beginning to use and understand housing as a human right as a default lens of how we think about decisions that get made about how how allocations are made um and how are we setting priorities. the working groups uh through the working groups and I want to a special thank you to the working group chairs um Annie uh Diana Chan McN is gone now but she stewarded our unhoused working group um and Ann Marie um who chaired the working groups and really steered a series of questions and thoughtful response to what the priorities should be and we asked you what what should we be focused on and we had a conversation of this at our last meeting as community members came forward and said these are the things that you should be concerned about and we've heard from a number of different communities. Um and so that represents some of the priorities that we've captured going forward. It's not exhaustive at all. I think some of what be has just raised can be added to that and how we think about what the priorities should be. Um, but it begins to set out a bit of a an earlier starting place for the next housing rights advisory committee that they can look at that and say, "Okay, where do we go forward?" Because we spent a bit of time just trying to figure out how do we get our arms around what is a very big mandate. Um, and so that's the what that's the what of what we do. So we've done some stuff and what lies forward. In the middle there's a little bit about how we do what we do. Um, and I think this is where we were all learning. We got put on a committee and said, "Now you're going to bring a human rights approach to um, thinking about what the city does." And I think we were all at different stages of learning what that meant and what that was going to look like. And so, thank you to all of you for your patience and willingness to learn and to ask questions. Um, I think that there are pieces that the city can take away and think about how can how can we make it easier for committees like this to do what they do. How can we make it easier for people with lived experience to come to this committee and tell their truth and feel supported in doing that? Um, how do we find a way to make sure that we can learn in a way that's we feel safe and secure and supported in doing that learning? So, I think these are pieces that we take away. I think they're pieces that the city can think about when they appoint this the next time. Um and I and I and there's there's lots in there. Um Sroja, you raised the question of monitoring with the ombbudzman, deputy ombbudsman. This is a tough one because it's in our mandate and we were given a big mandate. If you go back to our terms of reference, we were told that we were going to engage with uh rights communities of rights holders. We were going to monitor the progress. We were going to do intergovernmental advocacy. we were going to do all kinds of things and kind of an impossible set of tasks uh for our committee in 12 meetings. Um and so I think there's a question to come back and say how do we situate the monitoring and accountability technically? I'm not sure we're an accountability body. I think we're calling things out but we don't have authority. In the very first instance, we had an idea of what monitoring would look like and we had a more uh I called it a locus of accountability where all of these things would go up to one place that would hold it. But we didn't get that. That was something that was imagined as a imagined as a housing commissioner. Instead, we had roles and responsibilities distributed into an ombbuds into a committee uh hiring an external uh evaluator to do the monitoring. And maybe as we go forward we think about how do we create a better locus of accountability. Some of it is working with the ombbuds. Some of it is working and and continuing to ask questions around the monitoring and and being sharp on that. But I think that is the work ahead. And I think structurally we may still be iterating what that can look like so that it is more accountable so that it's not distributed functions across the city but we this because the whole is greater than the sum of the parts and I think holding that together will be an important next thing to aim for um as we go forward. But for the moment, we have a report that captures some of what we've learned, some of what we've done well, some of what we could do better. Um, I I want to uh say that I did the best that we could. I worked with staff and we pulled together what I thought I heard from all of you. Um, but it will be, you know, um, only as good as what that that came together. But I think it's at least a marker in the sand. So I'm putting that forward um to be uh recommended or received by executive and is that what I'm doing eventually not um but I want to pause first to say uh you've had a chance to take a look at it this is a moment of reflection of of what we have done before we do that however um I believe we have one presenter on this item >> yeah and so we have I'd like to welcome back Arnold Margulus who has uh signed up to depute on this item and so we'll hear from Arnold and then we'll come back to a discussion with the committee. So Arnold if you're there it's over to you and you have 5 minutes. >> Uh well first I will appreciate the chief for the comprehensive report and it's uh quite elaborate and interesting to read. Uh it's also a little bit complex for the you know for the ordinary people to to kind of to to understand. uh maybe for tenants of uh housing corporations uh uh but I wanted just to add a couple of ideas to incorporate in this report in terms of future steps. So um keep in mind that yeah of course you are uh accenting the rights of people who are currently unhoused and sheltered or maybe you know don't have any housing at all. they on the streets and this is uh the right thing to do. But don't forget that Toronto Community Housing is the largest landlord in Canada and uh Toronto seniors housing is uh probably uh not far away from this. Also in Toronto, one of the largest landlords and uh unfortunately in many in many situations, the human rights of people in who are already housed are grossly violated and persistently and it never improves no matter whom you complain. And uh in this reg uh in this regard uh I'm just suggesting to add to this to the future uh directions of work to ensure that human rights and uh enjoyment of accommodation and non- retaliation and uh also healthy and safe environment especially in seniors housing is critically important that those are the directions that uh the this committee should also oversee. and enforce and provide recommendations to the housing committee, the city council and generally with the the mayor and maybe the OMBbudsman and uh also to provincial bodies and uh this is very important. I also uh and namely this direction because uh to give you an example just uh uh as I said one of the tenants died next to my unit because uh the building staff forced them to fumigate the hallway. 90 years old people uh uh forced to fumigate the hallway. They died in the process and there was a homeless man placed in this empty unit. immediately start complaining about uh you know pzoning of his unit air and just uh moved in and I explained him that unfort unfortunately this is the case and the corporation does nothing to stop it a reverse illegal alterations so I'm just telling you that your work is not finished when people move from shelter to the housing because in some cases their rights are grossly abused I also wanted to address the lin yeah absolutely uh should be non vitilation but there are multiple policies in place and you know it as a you know tenant representative. So for example uh teny eviction uh prevention policy uh the whistleblower protection policy, the uh like um the tenant moving policy and the human rights policy and similar policies that were not enforced and the leadership of the corporation in bypass of all the policies with the blind support of the board of directors simply trying to evict people who report crimes committed in the building. So that's why I'm ask you to you know to to do some action right now in particular to recommend uh to uh Mr. perks and the housing committee uh to advise the board of directors of this uh Toronto Senior Housing Corporation to re uh revoke my case from the LTB because it was filed in violation of multiple policies that the board of director is mandated by the city council to enforce and they failed to do it. So they must revoke my case from the LTB and start uh executing their policies as a first step. Uh so uh the other thing is uh yes uh the transfer policy that also failed in my case refused to transfer me. They also should be addressing some of these issues when the administration actually uh you know the uh you know the or orders their staff uh to not execut their duties to not transfer people to even to falsify the amount of rent gear to income increasing it doubled the rent gear to income. people who are in uh you know in supervisory position they engaged in this activity and there is absolutely no control. So I'm asking uh your committee to advise the housing committee of the city council to demand from board of director to start controlling and and establish oversight what the corporate leadership is doing. Thank you. >> Thank you Arnold. There's there's a lot in there in what you've said. Um and I I certainly um understand the seriousness and my question around it is really one of of purview um and who can what what are we able to recommend and and and um follow up on some of what you're saying? Um Gore, did you have any insight on the sort of the questions of what sits where? Well, there's a booklength essay that could be written on who's responsible here. Um, the at the end of the day, um, it's city council who would would have responsibility. Uh, city council has what's called a relationship framework with Toronto Community Housing, which sets out what its uh, responsibilities as our housing company are. Um, I would caution against advocating for city council getting involved in particular cases and instead look to see if there are larger principles at stake. Uh, broadly speaking, yes, there are there are principles here. I would say uh among them is reinforcing the the rightsbased approach that we have been doing and and we have uh actually been advocating for that with with TCHC and and I know that board senior management and frontline staff have all been working through how this changes how they do their job. So I'd say that's in process. uh you know and and I would say that not only is in process but it's it's uh the current leadership at TCHC I would say more so than any leadership I've seen in two decades has been vigorously approaching that stuff constraint they face in their ability to meet these needs is is the simple shortage of housing uh which is often giving them sort of Hobson's choices about how to treat their tenants and and that's wrong and that's actually I think why uh what Lindsay's put in front of us is so important. It centers the fact that it takes resources to buy uh better h housing outcomes. >> Thank you. Um, and Matt, I'm just looking at uh the housing secretary. I think you said that you there's someone on your broader team that could perhaps follow up um with with Arnold on some of this. Can you speak to that? >> Yeah. Yeah, we have a a staff team that could reach out to the to the deput. >> Thank you, Arnold. >> Sorry, Lindy, please. Uh just a quick comment um kind of uh expressing the need for the uh legal clinics and the um the nonprofit legal clinics that could also help you if you're being evicted um you know funding to them uh is helpful and they do help um evictions with Toronto Community Housing. So, I hope you've reached out to uh a legal clinic close to you. >> It's not not so simple, but thank you. >> It's not simple. Um Annie, you had another >> Yeah, just on the particulars, building on what Lindsay said, and you may already have done this, but um yeah, your local uh Ontario Legal Aid Clinic might be able to help on the particulars. And also Toronto has a program called the Toronto Tenant Support Program that has legal services for renters at the Canadian Center for Housing Rights. Um, and there's also the office of the Commissioner of Housing Equity at at TCHC just in on those particular um cases. So, so I just wanted to to mention those. I'm in case you you hadn't already reached out. >> Thank you, >> Gourd. One last thought. Just just a note of caution. Um we're an advisory city or advisory committee to city on housing policy and not you know each of us brings some important expertise a variety of different pieces of expertise. I think we have to be cautious. Uh we are not uh trained in navigating housing systems. Uh, and I I think we have to be careful about giving advice on individual casework to people. That's not really what our expertise or role is. And while hearing about individual cases helps us to understand how to build advice to council, engaging in trying to solve a particular person's problem is is really not our role. And I think we have to be careful about doing that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Gourd. That's I'm close to these this work. So, thank you for the caution and I appreciate that. >> If it's possible to give some comments >> very brief, very very brief. >> Okay. Thank you very much. So I believe this is the duty of the housing committee of the city council to advise the board of directors of Toronto seniors housing corporation to enforce the policies because the shareholder directions uh which is city council the 100% shareholder they mandate the board of directors to enforce policies and in my particular case they failed to even to draw on any policies whatsoever. So they are obligated to enforce and this is a duty of the board of directors. So uh I completely disagree that you know the housing committee of the city council should be disengaged in this conversation. This is a duty of the housing committee to engage. Thank you. >> Thank you. And we're I don't think the suggestion was to disengage but rather that we can't comment on a specificity of a single case. I think the issues you're raising are important. they are systemic and your comments have been received. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So, with that, I'd like to open it now to uh committee members if you have any comments or questions about the summary document that was prepared and and distributed. >> Yes, Lindsay. Um, I just wanted to say thank you for your leadership as chair and for your kindness and your support and encouragement to everyone. I just really appreciate you and um, Asha and Meredith and the document. Yeah, I think I I feel proud of what we've done over the past three years. Thank you for your leadership. I think right around the table. Um, every one of you, I meant I called out the working group chairs, but honestly it was the working group members. It was every member of this committee um came to the table with the the issues and the knowledge that you have of the system and of housing rights and you um engaged thoughtfully um in a prepared way so that we could uh make good recommendations and motions and and for that I'm extremely grateful for every member of this committee. So, thank you. >> Roa, you look like you want to say something. >> Yeah, I just want to echo what Lindsay said. I I really I'm so grateful for your leadership, Elizabeth, and and Gourd, as well for helping us navigate city processes and everyone at the housing secretaria and and all the members um for helping us mobilize this work. It hasn't been easy. We've had to figure out a lot of different um kind of strategic ways to get our motions pushed forward. And honestly, I didn't expect that we could accomplish so much. So, I'm really proud of all of us. Thank you. And I really hope we can restrike this committee. >> Bunny you should say that because I think we have a motion to that effect coming up. Um, if there's no further comments at this time, um, I would move to adopt the item. Um, and can I see please of show of hands of who's in favor of adopting the Sorry, >> I don't think >> it's in the motion. Thank you. >> Sorry, I never follow instructions. >> Well, only when there's intent. Uh, >> can we display it? >> Thank you. >> I know you did. It's I have so much paper. >> Okay. So, we're going to display the motion, which is that the housing rights advisory committee one request the executive director of the housing secretariat to undertake the necessary steps to recommend the reestablishment of the housing rights advisory committee for the municipal term following the 2026 municipal election and two recommends the executive committee receive this item for information. Are there any questions on the motion? Seeing none, um can we move to a vote to uh move the motion? I'm moving it. All in favor? Yes. Yes. Yes. That is carried. And that is our last motion of the committee. >> I don't know. Nothing's happening. supposedly champagne corks or something. Um, a final thank you. I think I want to just go around the room. The people that don't get a lot of um, love all the time because I'm usually frustrated like looking for a piece of paper are our the team from the city clerk's office. So, um, Anita, Tanya, Carly, >> Wes, who's in the back room who does the tech. You know what I get? I get I get compliments online about how well you do this. So, thank you. Shout out. Um, it's honestly it's you put up with us. We're on a learning curve. We I came in, I knew nothing. Um, and I still know very little, but you help us get it through it. So, thank you very much. Um, I've already sort of talked about Gourd. Uh, we're going to miss you, but I hopefully you're not going that far. Maybe we can pull you back into the things things. I don't know what kind of things. Um and the housing secretariat has been incredible in guiding us through helping us figure out what how to make things happen. Um substantively they have pointed us in the right direction of what we've done, what we can do, what's possible. I'm incredibly grateful Asha and Meredith also to Matt. Uh Doug's not in the room, but it has been a full court press from the team and deeply appreciate it. So thank you. Um and I think I think that's and then all the other people are from the city and so everybody but um thank you all. This has been an important and I want to thank council because council actually said let's do the right to housing. >> Council said let's include this in the Toronto housing charter. Let's put this in our action plan and let's put something in place called the housing rights advisory committee. Then they put out the call and each one of you responded to the call and said I'm putting my hand up. I want to do this work. And so, uh, to council who didn't, I'm not sure what they knew they were getting into, but, um, sometimes that's better. >> Some counselors more, >> some more than others, but but we got here and I think we have I think we have served our our mission well. So, uh, thanks to all and hopefully we will see a new team of the housing rights advisory committee in place early in 2027 so that they can take the torch and keep going. Thank you all very much. And that's it. We're adjourned.